Eligibility

• A person becomes eligible for Social Security retirement benefits once he meets certain age and work history requirements. Age requirements vary depending on when a person was born. As of 2011, people age 65 become eligible provided they were born before the year 1965. Anyone born after the year 1965 doesn't become eligible until age 67. The Social Security program is partially funded by deductions made on employee paychecks, so eligible persons must have worked a certain number years to draw benefits. The minimum work history requirement is 10 years with a minimum annual earnings of $4,000.
  
  

Documentation Requirements

• When filing for Social Security benefits, documentation requirements provide verification of age, employment and income earnings. People who served in the U.S. military should also provide a record of any active military service they performed before 1968 as well as any discharge papers received. Documentation requirements for age verification include a birth certificate and Social Security identification number. Documentation needed for proof of income earnings include a person's most recent W-2 or self-employment tax return as well as the name and address of any employers worked for during the current and previous year. Eligible applicants can apply online and the Social Security Administration's website or at their local Social Security office.
  
  

When to File

• The Social Security benefit program allows people to file for early retirement benefits or wait until they reach their full retirement age. When to file depends on a person's individual financial circumstances. As of 2011, a person can file as early as her 62nd birthday or as late as 70 years old. And while 65 years old is considered full retirement age, a person can delay filing until 70 years old and reap retirement credits. Retirements credits make it possible to receive a larger monthly benefit amount once a person files. On the other hand, the earlier a person files, the smaller the benefit amount will be, so someone who files at 62 years old will receive a smaller monthly amount.
  
  

Employment Effects

• Medicare health coverage doesn't start until a person reaches his 65th birthday, some people may choose to keep working until Social Security retirement age to maintain employer-sponsored health insurance coverage. People who file early while still working may receive smaller monthly benefit amounts depending on how much they make. Once a person reaches full retirement age, income earnings no longer affect the monthly benefit amount. In addition, Social Security will adjust a person's monthly benefit amount to make up for monies withheld during the time a person worked.