What documents do I need for SS online account setup vs. retirement benefits application?

For creating your MySocialSecurity account, you'll need: - Valid email address - Social Security number - US mailing address - Driver's license or state ID They'll use these to verify your identity with some security questions based on your credit report. For applying for retirement benefits, have ready: - Birth certificate - W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns from last year - Marriage certificate (if applying for spousal benefits) - Divorce decree (if applying based on ex-spouse's record) - Military discharge papers if you served - Bank info for direct deposit The online application process is pretty straightforward but gathering these docs ahead of time definitely helps!

when i did mine last yr they didnt ask for my birth cert during the online part but they might ask later. they just need the info from it for the application. SSA already has ur birth record in their system usually

Just went thru this whole process!! For the MySocialSecurity setup they just asked me questions about my credit report history like former addresses and loans I've had. Super weird questions that only I would know. For the actual retirement application, I just entered the INFO from my documents but didn't have to upload anything. BUT then they called me 2 weeks later asking for a copy of my birth certificate because there was some issue with mine in their system. So have it ready just in case!!!

I recommend having both digital and paper copies of ALL your important documents before starting any Social Security processes. For the MySocialSecurity account setup, you primarily need your personal identifying information, but for benefit applications, you should be prepared with: 1. Birth certificate (original or certified copy) 2. Social Security card 3. W-2 forms or self-employment tax returns for the previous year 4. Any marriage certificate(s) and divorce decree(s) if applicable 5. Military discharge papers if you served 6. Bank account information for direct deposit The SSA might not request all these documents initially, but having them ready will prevent delays. If you're applying based on a spouse's record or have any special circumstances (non-US birth, name changes, etc.), additional documentation will be required.

Getting through to SSA to ask questions or fix issues with your online account is a NIGHTMARE. I spent THREE DAYS trying to get help when my account got locked during setup. If you run into any problems with either process, try Claimyr (claimyr.com) - they helped me actually reach a live person at SSA in under 20 minutes instead of waiting on hold for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Truly saved my sanity when I was dealing with identity verification issues!

I WISH SOMEONE HAD TOLD ME to check that my earnings record was correct BEFORE I applied!!! Make sure once you set up your mysocialsecurity account that you verify ALL your past earnings are correct. My benefit amount was calculated $400/month less than it should have been because some of my work from the 90s wasn't showing up correctly. Took 4 months to fix and I had to find old W-2s from 25+ years ago!!!! SO CHECK YOUR EARNINGS RECORD FIRST!!!

Thanks everyone for the helpful advice! I'm going to start by setting up my MySocialSecurity account this weekend, then spend some time organizing all my documents. I'll definitely check my earnings record too before applying. I appreciate all the tips!