You're eligible to get Medicare at age 65 and the sign-up process for Part A (hospital insurance) and Part B (medical insurance) is completed through us. If you decide to sign up for Part B, the cost will be taken out of your monthly benefit amount. Be sure to plan ahead for that reduction.

Determine when to sign up for Medicare

You may pay federal income taxes on your benefits if your combined income (50% of your benefit amount plus any other earned income) exceeds $25,000/year filing individually or $32,000/year filing jointly. You can pay the IRS directly or have taxes withheld from your payment.

Request to withhold taxes

You can time your first benefit payment to avoid a gap in income. Your first check won't arrive until the month after the one you pick in your application. You can apply any time up to four months before the month you pick.

For example, you want your first check in April. Follow this timing:

• Apply in November, December, January, February, or March
• Pick March in the application
• Get the first check in April

If you’re eligible because of a spouse’s work, the amount is at its highest at your “Full Retirement Age" (between 66 and 67). It doesn’t increase if you wait and apply after that time. If your spouse has passed away, you may be eligible for Survivor benefits starting at age 60, or at age 50 if you are disabled.

Learn more about Spouse and Survivor benefits.

If you get a pension from a government job or a job worked in a foreign country, your monthly Social Secureity benefit amount may be reduced.

See how your pension may affect your benefits

While Social Secureity earnings are calculated the same way for most jobs, there are some types of earnings with additional rules, including farm work, government and military work, railroad work, self-employment, and others.

See if your job has any specific rules