50+ Lifestyles

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY Davenport, Iowa Office

By Linda Clayton-Powell
Social Security District Manager
Davenport, Iowa

CURL UP WITH OUR LIBRARY ON WORLD BOOK DAY

More than 100 countries will participate in World Book Day on April 23, encouraging people to explore the pleasures of reading.

At Social Security, we invite you to explore our online library anytime to curl up for a good read with our electronic publications. In our virtual library, you can learn more about Social Security, our programs, and what our programs mean to you and your family. Browse through our collection of publications at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs. Search our online catalog by typing a title or topic in the library’s search box, and sort your results by a publication’s date, number, or title. Many of our publications are available in up to 17 different languages.

Our library also gives you access to audio recordings of our publications. While the fastest and most convenient way to get one of our publications is by visiting www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs, if you prefer a good, old-fashioned printed copy, you can call us at (410) 965-2039 and ask us to mail you a copy.

Social Security has been serving the American public since 1935, the same year that paperback pioneer Penguin Books released its first title. The difference is that, now, the publications we provide are available in more than just paper form. Whether you prefer print, electronic, audio, or an alternative format, Social Security has a good read for you.

Don’t have a lot of time for reading? Don’t worry. Our publications are a much easier read than Tolstoy’s classic, War and Peace. We write in plain language so that the information is easy to understand.

When you’re going through a life-changing event and need our services, having access to information on every one of our benefit programs will help make your next chapter one for the books!

SPRING INTO A STRESS-FREE RETIREMENT

April has arrived, and spring is here! As we say “goodbye” to winter weather hardships and “hello” to gardens budding with vibrant color, we welcome the season by celebrating Stress Awareness Month.

Did you know that stress, also called the “silent killer,” could cause heart disease and high blood pressure? Recognizing the sources of stress is the best way to understand how you can start eliminating factors in your life that put unnecessary strain on your body and mind.

Social Security wants to make your retirement planning as stress-free as possible, which is why we have a number of online tools available for you. You can create your own secure, personal my Social Security account from the comfort of your living room and avoid unpleasant traffic and a possible long wait in one of our field offices. Once you have a my Social Security account, you can view your Social Security Statement, verify your earnings record, and find out what to expect in monthly benefits if you retire at ages 62, 67, or 70. Once you begin receiving Social Security benefits, you can use my Social Security to check your benefit information, change your address and phone number, change your electronic payment method, and obtain an instant benefit verification letter and replacement SSA-1099/1042S.

You can easily sign up for my Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

If you’re thinking about retiring at an age not shown on your Statement, reduce the stress of the unknown by using our Retirement Estimator. The Retirement Estimator allows you to calculate your potential future Social Security benefits by changing variables such as retirement dates and future
earnings. You may discover that you’d rather wait another year or two before you retire to earn a higher benefit. Or, you might see that this is the season for you to kiss that work stress goodbye and retire right now. To get instant, personalized estimates of your future benefits, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

When you decide it’s time to start receiving your retirement benefits, the application process is far less stressful now that you’re prepared. You can securely apply online without picking up the phone or leaving your house. Simply go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline, and, in as little as 15 minutes, you can breeze through our online retirement application.

Our website and online tools are always available. You can enjoy Social Security’s stress-free retirement planning tools any time of the year, giving you more time to enjoy these warmer months. Doesn’t that put a spring in your step?