What verification questions does SSA ask during retirement benefits phone application at age 67?

When I applied by phone last year, they asked me to verify: - Full name and SSN (obviously) - Current address and phone number - Date and place of birth - Parents' full names including mother's maiden name - Previous addresses (going back 5-10 years) - Bank account info for direct deposit - Employment history (most recent employers) - Marriage history if applicable The key is to have ALL your personal documents in front of you when they call. Birth certificate, Social Security card, driver's license, recent tax returns, bank statements, etc. If they ask something you're unsure about, it's better to say "I need a moment to check my records" than to guess and be wrong.

The SSA's identity verification process is actually somewhat randomized - they pull questions from your credit report and other databases. Each person gets different questions based on their history. For your situation, I would recommend: 1. Pull your free credit report before your call (annualcreditreport.com) - this often shows address history 2. Write down all addresses you've lived at for the past 30 years with approximate dates 3. Make a list of all employers with dates of employment 4. Note all name changes if applicable 5. Have details about any loans, mortgages or financial accounts you've had The key is preparation. They're trying to confirm you are you, not trip you up.

they asked me the weirdest stuff when i called! like what car i bought in 2011 and some loan amount from like 15 years ago. i was like how am i supposed to remember that?? but somehow i guessed right lol. just have all ur paperwork with u and maybe old tax forms if u have them.

After my third attempt to verify my identity with Social Security (kept getting disconnected or denied), I discovered a service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person without the usual 2+ hour wait. They connected me directly with an SSA agent who was able to help me verify my identity. You can see how it works in their video demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Their website is claimyr.com - it was seriously worth it given your situation. The agent I spoke with was actually understanding and let me verify my identity through alternative means when I couldn't remember some details.

DO NOT GUESS on their identity questions!! I did this and got LOCKED OUT of my account for 60 DAYS! If you don't know an answer, tell them you don't recall exactly and ask if there's an alternative way to verify. Sometimes they can mail a verification code to your address on file instead. Also keep in mind the SSA phone systems are TERRIBLE and you might get disconnected multiple times. Start calling EARLY in the morning (right when they open) for shorter wait times.

I had trouble remembering old addresses too. When the agent asked me about an address from 20+ years ago, I was honest and said I couldn't remember the exact address but could describe the neighborhood and approximate years I lived there. The agent was actually understanding and asked me different verification questions instead. They have multiple questions they can ask - if you can't answer one, they'll usually try another approach. Bring your medical records too since you mentioned vision problems. If you're applying for disability-related benefits in addition to retirement, having documentation of your condition will be helpful.

When I called the SS office last month, I talked to a nice lady who just asked for my social security number, birth date, and mother's maiden name. Easy peasy! But my friend had to answer all kinds of crazy questions when she called. I think it depends on who answers your call lol!

I've been through this nightmare THREE TIMES! My advice: call your local Social Security office directly instead of the main number if possible. The local offices sometimes have more flexibility with verification. Also, if you have online access to MySocialSecurity account, you might be able to start the application online and then finish by phone, which sometimes requires less stringent verification. Just make sure you can log in to your online account BEFORE your application date!

Since you mentioned being partially blind, you should know that your vision condition might qualify you for additional benefits beyond just retirement. Depending on the severity, you might be eligible for disability benefits in addition to retirement. Make sure to mention your vision impairment during your application and ask if you should be applying for additional benefits. Having medical documentation ready will help with this process as well.

I'm so sorry you went through that frustrating experience at 62 - that must have been heartbreaking! Here are some additional tips that might help based on my own application experience: Consider having a trusted friend or family member present during your call who can help you locate documents if needed. Since you mentioned vision problems, having someone assist with reading paperwork could be really valuable. Also, before your call, try contacting your bank, previous employers, or landlords to get written records of addresses and employment dates. Many banks can provide a history of your addresses based on where statements were sent. One thing that really helped me was creating a "cheat sheet" with all my key information written in large print (or having someone write it for you): SSN, all addresses with dates, parents' info, employment history, etc. Finally, don't hesitate to ask the SSA representative to repeat questions or speak more slowly if needed. They're trained to accommodate people with disabilities and should be patient with you. You've got this! The fact that you're preparing ahead of time shows you're taking the right approach. Wishing you the best of luck with your application next week!

Lucas, I went through a similar situation when I applied for my benefits last year. One thing that really saved me was calling the SSA's technical support line first (1-800-772-1213) and explaining that I have vision problems and asking what accommodations they could provide during the application process. They actually noted this in my file, and when I called to apply, the representative was much more patient and offered alternative verification methods when I couldn't read certain documents clearly. Also, if you have any old tax returns, W-2s, or 1099s, keep them handy! They sometimes ask about income from specific years, and having those documents can really help. The IRS can also provide transcripts of your tax history if you need them. Since you mentioned your vision is getting worse, make sure to ask about expedited processing due to your medical condition. They have provisions for people with severe impairments that prevent them from working. You've gotten great advice from everyone here - you're going to do fine! The preparation you're doing now is exactly what will make the difference this time around.

Lucas, I just want to add one more important tip that helped me tremendously when I applied - if you get stuck on a verification question during your call, don't panic! I found that the SSA representatives are actually quite understanding when you explain your situation honestly. When they asked me about an old address I couldn't remember exactly, I said something like "I'm having trouble recalling the exact street number, but I lived in the Oak Grove neighborhood in Springfield from approximately 2010 to 2012. Is there another way we can verify this information?" The representative was very accommodating and asked me different questions instead. Also, since you mentioned you're partially blind, make sure to tell them right at the beginning of the call about your vision impairment and that you may need extra time to locate documents or have someone help you read them. This sets the right expectation and they're trained to work with people who have disabilities. One last thing - keep a glass of water nearby during your call. These conversations can be long and stressful, and staying hydrated will help you think more clearly. You've got this! The preparation you're doing based on everyone's advice here is going to make all the difference this time around.

Lucas, I wanted to share something that might really help with your situation. When I applied for my benefits, I discovered that the SSA has a special "compassionate allowances" program for people with certain medical conditions that cause severe vision loss. Since you mentioned your vision is progressive and getting worse, you might qualify for expedited disability processing in addition to your retirement benefits. I'd recommend having your ophthalmologist write a brief letter documenting your condition and how it affects your ability to work - bring this to your phone appointment. Sometimes having medical documentation can actually help with the identity verification process too, as it provides additional proof of who you are. Also, here's a practical tip that saved me: create a simple voice recording on your phone listing all your key information (addresses, employers, dates) and play it back to yourself a few times before your call. Since reading documents is challenging with vision problems, having the information in audio format can be really helpful. One more thing - if you do get disconnected during your call (which unfortunately happens a lot with SSA), don't give up! Ask for a reference number at the beginning of your call so you can reference your case if you need to call back. You're being so smart to prepare this thoroughly. The difference between your experience at 62 and now is that you know what to expect and you're taking all the right steps. Rooting for you!

Lucas, I want to share something that really helped me when I was in a similar situation. Since you mentioned being partially blind, you should know that you can request to have someone else (like a trusted family member or friend) on the call with you as an "authorized representative" to help with reading documents and taking notes. You'll need to give verbal permission at the beginning of the call, but this can make the whole process much less stressful. I also discovered that if you've ever had a my.ssa.gov account (even if you can't use it now due to vision issues), they sometimes have your previous application attempts on file, which can actually help with verification since they already have some of your information from when you tried at 62. One thing I wish someone had told me: if they start asking really obscure questions that you can't answer, you can actually request to verify your identity through your local SSA office in person instead. Sometimes the in-person verification process is more accommodating for people with disabilities. Given your vision challenges, this might be worth mentioning as a backup option if the phone verification doesn't go smoothly. Also, make sure to ask about getting your benefits backdated if possible - since you've been waiting and your vision has worsened, you might be entitled to some retroactive payments. You're going to do great this time! The fact that you're reaching out and preparing shows you've learned from the previous experience. Wishing you all the best with your call next week!

Lucas, I'm really glad to see how much support and excellent advice you've received here! As someone who works with seniors navigating government benefits, I wanted to add one more crucial tip that might help with your specific situation. Since you mentioned your vision impairment is progressive and preventing you from working, you should definitely ask about applying for SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) concurrently with your retirement benefits. At age 67, you might be able to receive both if your disability onset was before your full retirement age. The key is having medical documentation showing when your vision loss became severe enough to prevent substantial gainful activity. Also, here's something many people don't know: if you're receiving SSDI, you automatically qualify for Medicare after 24 months, regardless of age. Given your vision problems, having Medicare coverage could be incredibly valuable for ongoing eye care and adaptive equipment. For your phone call, I'd suggest creating a simple checklist with large checkboxes that someone can help you mark off as you cover each topic: identity verification, retirement benefits, disability application, Medicare eligibility, backdated benefits, etc. One final practical tip: SSA phone representatives often speak quickly and use a lot of jargon. Don't hesitate to ask them to slow down, spell things out, or repeat information. They're required to accommodate communication needs related to your disability. You've done such thorough preparation - I'm confident this application will go much better than your experience at 62. Best of luck with your call!

Lucas, I wanted to share something that really helped me when I was preparing for my SSA call last year. Since you mentioned having vision problems, I'd recommend asking a friend or family member to help you organize all your documents into clearly labeled folders or envelopes before your call. Having everything sorted by category (like "Address History," "Employment Records," "Medical Documents," etc.) made it so much easier to find what I needed quickly during the conversation. Also, one thing that caught me off guard was that they asked about my spouse's information even though I was applying for my own benefits. If you're married or have been married, make sure you have your spouse's Social Security number, full name, and birth date handy too. I see you've gotten amazing advice from everyone here about the compassionate allowances program and having an authorized representative on the call - definitely take advantage of both of those options! The SSA representatives I spoke with were actually much more patient and helpful when I explained my situation upfront and asked for accommodations. One last tip: if you start feeling overwhelmed during the call, it's completely okay to ask for a brief break or to schedule a follow-up call to complete the application. Don't feel pressured to rush through everything in one conversation if you need more time. You're going to do great - the preparation you're doing based on all this wonderful community advice is exactly what will make the difference this time around!