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A. You can. Social Security will accept your application for early benefits when you're 61 years 9 months. Regardless of how old you are, the agency generally recommends that you apply three months before you would like the first payment to arrive.
1 You must be at least 61 years and 9 months old to apply for retirement benefits. 2  If you are already age 62, you may be able to start your benefits in the month you apply.3  You should apply for benefits no more than four months before the date you want your benefits to start. If you are not getting Social Security and you are not ready to retire, you should still use our online retirement benefit application to sign up for just Medicare three months before your 65th birthday.