Originally published in Flourishing June 2012
Social Security statements are now sent out only annually to workers age 60 and older. On May 1, 2012, Michael J. Astrue, Commissioner of Social Security, announced that an online version of the Social Security Statement is now available.
“Our new online Social Security Statement is simple, easy-to-use and provides people with estimates they can use to plan for their retirement,” Commissioner Astrue said. “The online Statement also provides estimates for disability and survivors benefits, making the Statement an important financial planning tool. People should get in the habit of checking their online Statement each year, around their birthday, for example.”
In addition to helping with financial planning, the online Statement also provides workers a convenient way to determine whether their earnings are accurately posted to their Social Security records. This feature is important because Social Security benefits are based on average earnings over a person’s lifetime. If the earnings information is not accurate, the person may not receive all the benefits to which he or she is entitled. The online Statement also provides the opportunity to save or print the personalized Statement for financial planning discussions with family or a financial planner.*
To view your social security statement online, you must first create an account at:
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement/.
When you arrive at this website, click on the Sign In or Create An Account button. On the next screen, click Create An Account. After agreeing to the Terms of Service, click the Next button. You will now need to enter your personal information; your name, social security number, date of birth, home address, and primary telephone number. When you’re finished, click Next. The next screen will ask you some questions to confirm your identity. These questions are derived from information found at Experian (the credit bureau) and may contain questions about loans outstanding or insurance you have purchased. Then click Next again. You will be asked to create a username and password, and to enter your email address. You will also need to complete some security questions, so you can still get to your account if you forget your password. Click Next.
Congratulations! You account is now set up and ready to access. Click on Next to log in for the first time. You will need to agree to the Terms of Service one more time then click Next. After entering your username and password, you will be able to view your statement of benefits. ab
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* Source: https://www.socialsecurity.gov/pressoffice/pr/ss-online-statement-pr.html
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