November 25, 2015

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY Rock Island, Illinois Office

VitalChristinaBy Cristina Vital
Social Security Manager
Rock Island Social Security Office

GATHER THE FAMILY AROUND MY SOCIAL SECURITY

Each holiday gathering is special. Families and friends get together to see how big the kids have gotten, catch up on family news from the summer and new school year, and remind each other to be grateful for what we have.

But what’s the best way to know what you have to be thankful for when it comes to Social Security disability or retirement benefits?

This year, between holiday presents and egg nog, give your loved ones the gift of access, knowledge, and empowerment that they’ll be thankful to have.

Before everyone gathers around the glow of a fire, gather around the glow of the computer screen and pull up www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount to open a free my Social Security account. There, your friends and family who don’t yet receive benefits can access their:

  • Earnings information;
  • Social Security Statements; and
  • Estimates of future benefits if they are still working.  This information is invaluable to family members — both young and old — or family members who are planning to file for disability benefits. It can help them make informed financial decisions about the future. If your loved one is already receiving retirement or disability benefits, my Social Security is useful for quick and easy updates and changes like:
    • Changes of address;
    • Direct deposit information;
    • Replacing a Medicare card; and
    • Receiving replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S documents for tax season.

By showing your loved ones how to access this resource and encouraging them to open their own my Social Security accounts, you can keep the good feeling of gratitude going all year round. Join the more than 20 million families and friends already using my Social Security to stay informed of their benefits and prepare for the future. Gather the family around www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. It’s the gift that keeps giving all year long.

THE TWELVE SITES OF SOCIAL SECURITY

Familiar carols are a part of the season. This song is so popular that holiday revelers clamored for it again. It’s “The Twelve Sites of Social Security,” inspired by the popular traditional holiday song, “The Twelve Days of Christmas,” — a holiday favorite since 1780.

For the first site of Social Security, we give to you: our home page, www.socialsecurity.gov. It’s the place to go for all things Social Security. Everything you could want — from online services and benefit screening tools to publications and frequently asked questions — you can find easily on this site.

For the second site of Social Security, we give to you: answers to all of your Social Security related questions
at our Frequently Asked Questions page at www.socialsecurity.gov/faq.

For the third site of Social Security, we give to you: an easy way to learn how to replace your Social Security card at www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

For the fourth site of Social Security, we give to you: an online application for retirement benefits that you can
complete and submit in as little as 15 minutes at www.socialsecurity.gov/applytoretire.

For the fifth site of Social Security, we give to you: five
estimates of your future Social Security benefits! Or as many estimates as you would like using different scenarios. Get instant, personalized estimates of your future benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.

For the sixth site of Social Security, we give to you: a convenient way to apply for disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.

For the seventh site of Social Security, we give to you: an online application for Medicare that you can complete in as
little as 10 minutes, at www.socialsecurity.gov/medicareonly.

For the eighth site of Social Security, we give to you: Extra Help with Medicare prescription drug plan costs. You can learn more and apply online at www.socialsecurity.gov/prescriptionhelp.

For the ninth site of Social Security, we give to you: our convenient publication library with online booklets and pamphlets on numerous subjects, at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

For the tenth site of Social Security, we give to you: services for people who are currently receiving benefits, such as the ability to replace your Medicare card, get or change a password, request a proof of income letter, or check your Social Security information or benefits. You can do these and other things at www.socialsecurity.gov/pgm/getservices-change.htm.

For the eleventh site of Social Security, we give to you:
a way to get your Social Security forms online, at www.socialsecurity.gov/forms.

On the twelfth site of Social Security (and we saved the best for last): open your own personal my Social Security account, which will enable you to verify your earnings, get future
benefit estimates, obtain benefit verification letters, update your Social Security information, and more at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

And a partridge in a pear tree. Find it all (except the
partridge and pear tree) at www.socialsecurity.gov.

Filed Under: Finance

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