50+ Lifestyles

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY Rock Island, Illinois Office

By Christina Vital
Social Security Manager
Rock Island Social Security Office

A GREENER WAY TO DO BUSINESS

April 22 is Earth Day, a great time to recommit to going green. More than one billion people will celebrate Earth Day this year. Saving energy, conserving water, and using less gas are just a few ways to go green (and save the earth).

At Social Security, we strive to have a positive impact on the environment and community. By visiting www.socialsecurity.gov, you can handle much of your Social Security business quickly and securely from your home or office.

Whether you want to get an estimate of your future retirement benefits, request a replacement Medicare card, report a change of address, or take charge of your retirement planning, our online services help meet your Social Security needs while saving you time. The best part is there’s no need for paper, printing, and postage.

Visiting www.socialsecurity.gov is also the cleanest and greenest way to do business with Social Security. Going online saves you a trip to our office and reduces emissions.

If the time comes, however, when you need to come into one of our offices, we have locations across the nation.

At Social Security, we have buildings that use high-efficiency lighting, high-performance windows, solar hot water heating systems, chilled water system improvements, and improved heating and air conditioning systems. Efficient solar lighting even illuminates some of our parking lots. Simply put, we serve the earth while serving you.

Do you need to make a call instead? If so, you can reach us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. All calls are confidential. Our helpful and knowledgeable staff is available to answer specific questions from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday through Friday. We provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. And, if you are deaf or hard of hearing, you can call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.

If you prefer to communicate by social media, we can meet you there, too. At the bottom of www.socialsecurity.gov, you’ll find icons to Twitter, Facebook, Google Plus, YouTube, and Pinterest. If you have a question, you may first want to see our Frequently Asked Questions page at www.socialsecurity.gov/faq. No matter how you choose to contact us, Social Security is here to assist you.

Commit to go green! You can start by viewing a complete list of our online services at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.

LET SOCIAL SECURITY HELP JAZZ UP YOUR RETIREMENT PLAN

April is Jazz Appreciation Month, a perfect time to move your feet and revel in the smooth beats of one of America’s most beloved musical genres. Ella Fitzgerald, the “Queen of Jazz,” known for her scatting style, had a vocal range spanning three octaves. Other great jazz icons include Dizzy Gillespie, Benny Goodman, Louis Armstrong, Herbie Hancock, and Wynton Marsalis.

These jazz greats not only have music in common, but they either received, receive, or will be eligible to receive Social Security retirement benefits. Wynton Marsalis, at age 53, is approaching retirement. Herbie Hancock, at age 74, is already old enough to receive full Social Security retirement benefits. A lot of planning and preparation made these artists successful. If you want to be successful in your retirement years, financial planning is important for hitting all the high notes.

You don’t have to scat like Ella, or blow your horn like Wynton, Dizzy, and Louis, to plan for retirement. If you’re making retirement plans, you’ll want to visit Social Security’s website to use our retirement planner at www.socialsecurity.gov/retire. You’ll find detailed information about your Social Security retirement and what you may want to consider as you prepare for your future. Our Retirement Estimator at ww.socialsecurity.gov/estimator will give you an instant, personalized estimate of your future benefits. You can plug in different retirement ages and scenarios to help you make a decision. If you’re ready to apply for retirement benefits, just go online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline.

Creating a secure my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount is another way to fine-tune your retirement. Your account will allow you to verify your posted earnings and get retirement estimates for ages 62, 67, and 70. Opening a my Social Security account is safe, easy, and only takes a few minutes.

Louis Armstrong’s “What a Wonderful World” may come to mind as you visit our website at www.socialsecurity.gov to jazz up your retirement planning!