You can apply for benefits online if you are

•61 years and 9 months or older and plan to start receiving retirement or spouse’s benefits within four months; and
•if you have a disability or illness that is expected to keep you from working for at least 12 months or you have a serious condition that will result to death

Applying for benefits online takes only a few steps. On any computer with secure internet connection, access the social security agency link, fill in the answers to the application questions and once completed, you can send the application.

But before you begin doing this, you will need to get a few things ready.

•Your social security number and date of birth,

•direct deposit numbers to have your monthly benefits deposited for you,

•the amount you earned last year and how much you expect to earn this year (and next, if you apply between September and December),

•for disability claims, information about your illnesses, injuries, and conditions plus your medical care providers,
•the name and addresses of each employer for the last two years,

•if you were in the military between 1939 and 1968, the beginning and ending dates of each period of active duty service, and

•your social security statement

When you apply, you will also be ask to give the ff: name, social security number, and date of birth of your current spouse, and any former spouse including marriage and divorce information and names of unmarried children (your dependent natural children, adopted children, stepchildren and possibly your dependent grandchildren and step grandchildren who live with you) under the age of 18 or 18 and still attending secondary school, or any other child disabled before age 22.

The online benefit service has several advantages:
•It saves time and money
•It can be done in the privacy of one’s home at his own pace
•It costs less to process

However, other online benefit applications that will be made available are supplemental security income (SSI) benefit, children benefit, surviving spouse benefit, lump sum death payment, and the application for medical coverage.