How to Apply for Oregon Social Security
- 1). Determine whether you are eligible to apply for Social Security benefits. While full retirement age varies, persons 62 or older are able to collect Social Security retirement benefits. Keep in mind that starting your benefits earlier decreases the amount of the payments you receive. Carefully consider any other sources of income, whether you plan to work into retirement, your health and your family history before deciding to apply. For Social Security disability benefits, you must have a physical or mental impairment that prevents you from performing substantial work, and that condition must have lasted or be expected to last for at least one year.
- 2). Gather the relevant personal identity information and documents. You will be asked to give personal information that you might not readily know, such as your bank account number and routing number, your income earned for this and last year, your most recent employer's contact information and any military service dates. You will also be asked for your current and any previous spouses' dates of birth, Social Security number and the dates and places of marriage, divorce or death. If applying for disability benefits, you will need to provide contact information for any doctors, hospitals and clinics, your patient ID, any dates you were seen and any medications you are taking. Documents you will need include your birth certificate, any military service papers, your W-2 or self-employed tax return and a copy of your Social Security statement. Disability applicants will also need to provide medical evidence such as a disability report and any award letters for any workers' compensation you have received.
- 3). Complete the application. Go to the Social Security Seattle Region website. Retirement applicants should click "File for Benefits Online." Select "Social Security Retirement." Click "I am applying for myself." Acknowledge that you have read the Privacy Act statement and click "Apply for Benefits." Disability applicants, meanwhile, should click "File for Benefits Online." Select "Adult Disability and Work History Report." Click "Start the Report."
- 4). Print your receipt for your records.
- 5). Mail your requested documents to the Social Security office processing your application or bring them to your local Social Security office in Oregon.
