The NGBC can help you process your Northrop Grumman retirement benefits but not your Social Security benefit or Medicare. It is up to you to apply for your Social Security benefits three months before you want your benefits to begin and for Medicare three months before your 65th birthday. Both application processes are described below.

Social Security

You can begin receiving your reduced Social Security benefit as early as age 62, or you can wait to receive your full Social Security benefit. The age at which you are eligible to receive your full benefit depends on the year you were born, as shown in the chart to the right.

The amount of your Social Security benefit is determined by:

• Your age at the time you start receiving benefits
• Your earnings averaged over most of your working career, including the years you didn’t work but had the ability to do so, up to age 62.

You should apply for Social Security three months before you want your benefits to begin. You can apply in one of three ways:

• On the Web at www.ssa.gov (access the "Internet Retirement Insurance Benefits" application)
• By telephone at 1-800-772-1213
• In person — call 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment at your local Social Security office.

When you apply for Social Security benefits, you may need original or certified copies of the following:

• Social Security number
• Your birth certificate
• Your most recent W-2 form
• If you were in the military, your military discharge papers
• If you are married and applying for spouse benefits, your marriage certificate, your spouse’s birth certificate and your spouse’s Social Security number
• If you are applying for children’s benefits, your children's birth certificates and Social Security numbers
• If you (or your spouse or child for whom you are applying for benefits) were not born in the U.S., proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status
• The name of your bank and your account number, so that your benefits can be deposited directly into your account.

When you submit your documents, be sure to keep copies for yourself. If you do not have all of the required documents, contact your local Social Security office for help.

Medicare

Typically you are eligible for Medicare if you are age 65 or older. (You may be eligible to receive benefits prior to age 65 if you have a qualifying disability or end-stage renal disease.)

The Social Security Administration automatically will send you information regarding Medicare Part A and an application for Medicare Part B three months before your 65th birthday if you are receiving Social Security benefits. At that time you should apply for your Medicare Part B benefits. If you do not receive the application for Medicare coverage, then you can request one:

• By calling the Social Security Administration at 1-800-772-1213
• Accessing the Medicare Web site at www.medicare.gov.

When you enroll in Medicare, you may be required to provide the following:

• Proof of age
• Your previous year’s Form W-2 Wage and Tax Statement (earnings)
• Your Social Security card or record of your number
• Marriage certificate, if applicable.