By Jacqueline Weisgarber, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Richmond, Virginia

April is Financial Literacy Month.  Social Security is a vital part of any financial plan.  .  Our online tools can help you understand your potential Social Security benefits and how they fit into your financial future. 

You should periodically review your Social Security Statement (Statement) using your personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.  Your Statement is an easy-to-read summary of the estimated benefits you and your family could receive, including potential retirement, disability, and survivors’ benefits. 

Our Plan for Retirement tool in your personal my Social Security account allows you to check various benefit estimate scenarios.  You can compare how different future earnings and retirement benefit start-dates might affect your future benefit amount.

Please tell your friends and family about the steps they can take to improve their financial knowledge by exploring their personal my Social Security account.  If they don’t have an account, they can easily create one at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

By Jacqueline Weisgarber, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Richmond, Virginia

Social Security works with the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) to protect you from scams that use Social Security as bait.  Section 1140 of the Social Security Act allows OIG to impose severe penalties against anyone who engages in misleading Social Security-related advertising or imposter communications.  You can review Section 1140 at www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/ssact/title11/1140.htm.

For example, the OIG may impose a penalty against anyone who:

• Mails misleading solicitations that appear to be from or authorized by Social Security.
• Operates an imposter internet website or social media account designed to look like it belongs to or is authorized by Social Security.
• Sends emails or text messages or makes telephone calls claiming to be from Social Security.

• Sells Social Security’s free forms, applications, and publications without our written approval.
• Charges a fee for a service that Social Security provides free of charge without providing a clearly visible notice that Social Security provides the service for free.

If you receive a misleading or suspicious Social Security-related advertisement or imposter communication, please let us know immediately.  Try to capture as much information about the communication as you can. 

Here’s what you can do:

• For suspicious websites or social media accounts, please take a screenshot of the page. Please note the website address or social media link – and how you came across it. 
• For emails and text messages, please capture the entire message and any message links.
• For U.S. mail solicitations, please retain the complete communication, including the outside envelope and all inserts.
• For telephone solicitations, please note the caller identification phone number and any company name or call back number that the caller or recorded message provides.

You can help us stop misleading advertising and communications.  We encourage you to report potential scams to the OIG at oig.ssa.gov.  You can also call our fraud hotline at 1-800-269-0271 or send an email to OIG.1140@ssa.gov.

This information will help OIG locate the source of the suspicious solicitation or communication.  You can also check out our publication, What You Need to Know About Misleading Advertising, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10005.pdf.

Please share this information with friends and family and help us spread the word on social media!

Reimagined Website Prioritizes Customer Experience

Visitors to SSA.gov will experience a fresh homepage and a new design to help them find what they need more easily.

“SSA.gov is visited by over 180 million people per year and it is one of our most important tools for providing efficient and equitable access to service,” said Kilolo Kijakazi, Acting Commissioner of the Social Security Administration. “Whether providing service in person or online, our goal is to help people understand what they may qualify for and seamlessly transition them to an application process.”  Improved self-service capability allows people to skip calling or visiting an office, which helps Social Security staff focus on those visitors who need in-person assistance.

Part of ongoing efforts to improve how the public can do business with the agency, the redesign is intended to provide a clear path to the tasks customers need to accomplish. Many of the most visited sections of SSA.gov are now live with a more user-friendly and task-based approach. New pages and improvements based on public feedback will continue to be unveiled in the coming months.

Visitors to SSA.gov can use interactive tools to:

Check eligibility for benefits

The new benefit eligibility screener is a convenient and simple way for people to learn if they might be eligible for benefits.

Save time on Social Security Number (SSN) and card online services

If a person loses their SSN card, they may not need a replacement.  In most cases, simply knowing their SSN is enough.  If a person does need a replacement card, they may be able to request it online by visiting www.ssa.gov/ssnumber. Individuals can also start an application for an updated card or request an SSN for the first time.  People may never need to visit an office and, if they do need to visit an office to complete the application, they will save a lot of time by starting online.

Start an application for Supplemental Security Income (SSI)

People can start the application process online and request an appointment to apply for SSI benefits by answering a few questions at www.ssa.gov/benefits/ssi/.   

Apply for Social Security benefits and other online services

For most benefits, people can apply online or start an application online. In many cases, there are no forms to sign. The agency will review the application and reach out with questions or for more information. Visit www.ssa.gov/onlineservices to apply for retirement, disability, or Medicare.

Many Social Security services do not require the public to take time to visit an office.  Using a my Social Security account, a personalized online service, people can start or change direct deposit, or request a replacement SSA-1099. For individuals already receiving Social Security benefits, they can print or download a current Benefit Verification Letter if they need proof of their benefits. 

People not yet receiving benefits can use their online account to get a personalized Social Security Statement, which provides their earnings information as well as estimates of their future benefits.  The portal also includes a retirement calculator and links to information about other online services. The agency encourages people without a my Social Security account to create one today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount/.

By Jacqueline Weisgarber

Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Richmond, Virginia

Every July, we take pride in celebrating our nation’s independence.  For nearly 90 years, our programs have helped provide financial independence to millions of hardworking people.  We have useful online tools like the Social Security Statement (Statement) and our benefits estimator tool that help people not yet receiving benefits.  The Statement shows the benefits that you and your family may be entitled to with personalized fact sheets tailored to your age and earnings situation.  The benefits estimator tool allows you to get estimates based on different ages you want to begin receiving benefits.  These tools can help you plan the financial independence you deserve in retirement.

Don’t receive benefits?  You can get the most out of your online experience if you have a personal my Social Security account.    You can:

• Get your Statement instantly.
• Request a replacement Social Security card (in nearly every state and the District of Columbia).
• Find out if you qualify for benefits.
• Appeal a decision we made on your claim.

Already receiving benefits?  If so, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Request a replacement Social Security card (in nearly every state and the District of Columbia).
• Get an instant benefit verification letter for Social Security, Medicare, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
• Start or change your direct deposit. (Social Security beneficiaries only)
• Check your information and benefit amount.
• Change your address. (Social Security beneficiaries only)
• Request a replacement Medicare card.
• Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S instantly for tax season.
• Report your wages if you work and receive disability benefits or SSI.

You can create your personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

Our blog at blog.ssa.gov features messages and information direct from our Acting Commissioner and other experts.  You can subscribe and get an email each time we post a new blog so you can stay informed.  From the blog, you can also connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. 

With so many services and helpful information available online, we are here for you when it’s convenient for you.  Be sure to tell friends and family about all they can do with us from any device at www.ssa.gov.