Free Social Security Benefits Application Forms and Templates

Social Security Benefits are a type of support protection provided by the U.S. government which an applicant can get when certain life events happen to them. To apply for benefits a filer must fill out and submit a correct Social Security Benefits Application , which is available for download below or can be ordered through a local Social Security office.

Types of Social Security Benefits

There are different types of benefits that individuals can apply for, such as:

  1. Social Security Disability Benefits. If it is no longer possible for an applicant to work because of their medical condition, they can apply for this type of benefits.

  2. Social Security Retirement Benefits. If a filer has reached a certain age, they can apply for benefits with the SSA.

  3. Social Security Spousal Benefits. Individuals whose spouses filed for retirement insurance benefits may be eligible for benefits as well.

  4. Social Security Survivors Benefits. When a filer’s family member deceased they may be eligible for survivors’ benefits.

Each of these benefits has its own requirements that a filer must meet. For example, to apply for disability benefits an applicant must meet specific requirements, which include being 18 years old or older, and having no possibility to work at the moment because of their medical condition, which is expected to last for twelve months or more, etc.

If an applicant needs proof that they have applied for benefits, receiving benefits, or they are required to present proof of their retirement or disability, they should request a Social Security Verification Letter. It verifies the income of a filer and can be requested online or in a local social security office.

How to Apply For Social Security Benefits?

Applying for social security benefits is a time-consuming process, so it's better for an applicant to get ready and gather the information that must be reported in advance. To apply for social security benefits an applicant must fill out an SSA Benefits Application form which differs depending on the type of benefits a filer is applying for. Individuals can apply for benefits:

  • Online. To apply for social security benefits online an applicant should visit the official website of the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA);
  • By phone. If an applicant wants to apply by phone they should call the Social Security Administration;
  • In person. In this case, an applicant should visit their local security office, it might be required to make an appointment prior to the visit. A list of facilities is available on the SSA official website.

After an applicant has chosen the most convenient way for them to apply for benefits they should fill in the appropriate application. For example, to apply for retirement benefits a filer should fill out Form SSA-1-BK, Application for Retirement Insurance Benefits. If a filer wants to apply for survivors' benefits they should fill in Form SSA-24, Application for Survivors Benefits.

After a filer has filled in an appropriate application and gathered documents required for applying for a certain benefit, they should submit it to the social security office.

How Are Social Security Benefits Calculated?

The benefits that an individual is eligible for and can apply for depend on a lot of factors. However, the SSA gives individuals the opportunity to receive a rough picture of how much they might get in one way or another depending on the information they have now.

To find out the potential size of the payments, an applicant can use the Social Security Benefits Calculator, which is provided on the official SSA website. By entering present data about their estimated earnings, date of birth, and the age at which they plan to stop working, individuals can have a basic understanding of the amount of payments they might receive.

How to Maximize Social Security Benefits?

There is a list of circumstances that an applicant’s future social security benefits depend on. Knowing them can help to increase the payments and create a better situation for the upcoming bonuses. In order to maximize social security benefits, an applicant should follow the recommendations, such as:

  1. Work for 35 years or more. Benefits calculated from the earnings an applicant has made during the 35 years in which they earned the most.
  2. Work until your full retirement age. An applicant’s full retirement age depends on the year they were born.
  3. Pay attention to all kinds of benefits you might get. A filer should research all kinds of benefits available and file an application if they meet the requirements.

Additional Social Security Benefits Application Forms


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This document is used by survivors of veterans to claim Social Security benefits they are eligible to.

Use this form to apply for spousal benefits based on your current, former, and deceased spouses' primary insurance.

Use this form to cancel the application for Social Security benefits you submitted.

This legal document is filed by fully-insured individuals to apply for a type of social insurance payments paid to individuals over 62 years of age.

This legal document is filled out by survivors of wage earners and self-employed individuals to apply for a death payment of $255.

This letter states your annual income information along with the benefits you have earned for your retirement, Medicare or what you will be entitled to in case of disability.

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