August 31, 2016

YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY Rock Island, Illinois Office

VitalChristinassaBy Cristina Vital
Social Security Manager
Rock Island Social Security Office

FOCUS ON RETIREMENT PLANNING — IT’S YOUR FUTURE

When most people begin their career, retirement is the farthest thing from their mind. Instead, they focus on trying to purchase a home, start a family, or perhaps save money for travel. Retirement seems so far away for many younger people that they delay putting aside money. However, it’s very important to save for the future — if you want to enjoy it.

An employer-sponsored retirement plan or 401(k) can be a useful way to set aside funds for retirement, especially if your employer offers matching funds on what you invest. If you don’t work for an employer that offers this type of plan, there are many other plans designed to help you save for retirement.
From solo 401(k)s to traditional and Roth IRAs, there are programs designed to fit a multitude of budgets. The earlier you start to save, the more funds you’ll have ready for retirement.

In addition to traditional programs, the U.S. Department of the Treasury now offers a retirement savings option called myRA. There’s no minimum to open the account, you can contribute what you can afford, and you can withdraw funds with ease. To learn more about myRA, visit www.myra.gov.

And, as always, there is Social Security, which is funded by taxes you pay while you work. To get estimates of future benefits and check your earnings record for accuracy, you can create a my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. Prepare for your future and start saving — and planning — today!

SOCIAL SECURITY JOINS THE HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH CELEBRATION

Social Security joins you and your family in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month, which runs from September 15 to October 15.

We know the contributions of Hispanics can be traced to before the origins of the United States with the discovery, exploration, and naming of many places in our nation, such as state names like California, Colorado, and Texas and city names like San Antonio, Santa Barbara, and Boca Raton. Hispanics have influenced every facet of life, from language to our cultural development. Hispanics play a crucial role in American life.

The most important things to you are your family and maintaining the feeling of individuality through your language. That’s why Social Security provides a website — www.segurosocial.gov — with a variety of publications and services in Spanish that are important to you and your family.

If you need to apply for your first Social Security number or a get a replacement Social Security card, we invite you to read our publications Social Security Numbers for Children and Your Social Security Number and Card.

We offer a toll free number, 1-800-772-1213, which provides automated instructions for Spanish speakers. We also try to have employees available on the phone and
in many of our offices who speak Spanish. However, if you need an interpreter, you can go to www.segurosocial.gov/espanol/interpreter.htm to find out more about our free interpreter services.

Just as grandparents help guide their grandchildren through life’s journey, we at Social Security are with you throughout yours. The services we provide guide you through your journey from birth, with your first social security card, to your dream of a secure retirement.

You don’t have to wait to find out what your retirement benefits may be. We provide the Retirement Estimator, one of our most popular online calculators, in Spanish. It offers instant, approximate estimates of your future retirement benefits. Try it for yourself at www.segurosocial.gov/calculador. Remember what your father wisely said to you: “It is up to this generation to secure our community’s today and tomorrow.”

Whether it’s through our website, visiting one of our offices, or calling our toll free number, we at Social Security maintain our commitment of providing first-class service to the nation’s growing Latino community. To learn more, visit www.segurosocial.gov.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question:
Can I refuse to give my Social Security number to a private business?

Answer:
Yes, you can refuse to disclose your Social Security number, and you should be careful about giving out your number. But, be aware, the person requesting your number can refuse services if you don’t give it. Businesses, banks, schools, private agencies, etc., are free to request someone’s number and use it for any purpose that doesn’t violate a federal or state law. To learn more about your Social Security number, visit www.socialsecurity.gov/ssnumber.

Filed Under: Finance

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