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My Social Security Account
My Social Security Account
My Social Security Account
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(gentle music) <v ->Hi, I am Yvette with AARP.</v> I lead workshops in my community to help older adults stay connected and age successfully. I'm going to talk about the my Social Security account, how to create one, and what it can do for you. The my Social Security account, also known as mySSA, is a safe and secure way to access your Social Security information. If you're not one of the millions of people who have created their online account, you should consider doing so. Let's watch a short video to learn more. <v ->To create an account,</v> go to ssa.gov/myaccount, and click on Create An Account. Click on Create An Account again to be redirected to the login.gov website. On the login.gov sign-in page, click on Create An Account. On the successive screens, enter an email address and language preference, confirm your email, and create a password that's at least 12 characters long. Select the way you want the Social Security Administration to verify your identity when you sign into your account. There are several methods available, the most common being to receive a one-time security code by text or phone call each time you log in, or to use an app that generates codes for you. If you choose the text or phone option, you'll go through that code process as part of this initial sign-in. Next, enter your identifying information. You'll be asked to read and agree to terms of service for the account, and then, to provide information the Social Security Administration can use to verify your identity, including your name, Social Security number, birthdate and home address. You'll be given an option at this point to beef up account security by providing some form of identification or financial information, like a driver's license or tax return. The Social Security Administration will use this to further confirm your identity when you log in. Going forward, you'll be able to log into your my Social Security account from any device using login.gov. If you previously created an account using Social Security's ssa.gov website, or the online identity verification network, id.me, you can still access that account using those platforms and your existing credentials. Even if you're not currently collecting Social Security benefits, you can use your account to get estimates of how much your monthly benefit would be if you claim it early, at Full Retirement Age or at age 70. You can also request a replacement Medicare or Social Security card, verify your earnings over your career, check the status of a pending claim or an appeal of a disability benefits decision and get proof that you don't receive benefits. It's important to note that while you cannot use a my Social Security account directly to apply for benefits, you can apply at the URL on your screen. Now, if you already receive Social Security benefits, you can use your my Social Security account to set up or change direct deposit, get a Social Security 1099, opt out of mailed notices if they're available online, print a benefit verification letter and change your address. <v ->As you can see, it is very useful</v> to have a my Social Security account. One thing to note. If you have a security freeze or a fraud alert on your credit report, you'll need to temporarily lift it to set up your mySSA. Once you set up your account, you can reactivate the freeze or the alert and you won't have to lift it again in the future to access your account. Now, let's hear from Social Security expert, Martin Booker, about what you can do with a my Social Security account. Martin, what can you do with a mySSA if you're not yet collecting benefits? <v ->The first thing you'll want to do</v> is review your earning record. This is a year-by-year record of all the earnings in which you've paid Social Security tax. Social Security is going to use your 35 highest years of earnings, adjusted for wage growth, to calculate your retirement benefit, so it's important that all of your earnings are on your record. If you see a year that doesn't look right, check it against your records, and contact the Social Security Administration. Then, you can use the account to get estimates of your retirement, disability and survivor benefits for your family. These estimates will help you with your financial planning for the future. Your account also includes a personal retirement calculator that you can use to get estimates of your retirement benefits based on different claiming ages from 62 to 70, and it will allow you to change the amount of future earnings used to figure the estimate. You can also use your account to file for disability and spousal benefits. You cannot use it to file for survivor benefits though. <v ->Thanks, Martin.</v> It sounds like you can do a lot before you even start collecting benefits. Now, what can you do with a my Social Security account after you start collecting benefits? <v ->Your my Social Security account is especially useful</v> after you start collecting your Social Security benefit. You can check your monthly benefit amount, deductions such as Medicare premiums and volunteer tax withholdings. If you move, you can change your address online with your my Social Security account. If you change bank accounts, you can update your direct deposit as well. You can print an official benefit verifications letter if you need to show proof of your Social Security income, such as when you apply for a loan or housing assistance. This letter is sometimes called a proof of income letter or budget letter. If you're working on a tax return and can't find the SSA-1099 that the Social Security Administration mailed, you can print a replacement 1099 right from your my Social Security account. You can also use it to request a replacement Medicare card, and in many cases, you can request a replacement Social Security card. <v ->Thanks, Martin.</v> Having a my Social Security account is an important part of your retirement planning. If you still have questions or need assistance, you can reach out to your local Social Security office by visiting ssa.gov/locator, or calling 800-772-1213, and a representative can help you make an informed decision about your benefits. To find clear and comprehensive information about Social Security, check out this website. For additional information about Social Security topics and resources, visit learn.aarp.org/socialsecurity. While you're there, be sure to use the Your Questions Answered tool to browse frequently asked questions. If you don't see what you're looking for, you can submit your own question. Volunteer Certified Financial Planner professionals from the Foundation for Financial Planning will answer every question submitted with a personalized response within 10 days via private email. Thanks for watching. (gentle music)
Video Summary
In this video, Yvette from AARP discusses the benefits of creating a my Social Security account. She explains how to create an account, including steps such as providing personal information and choosing an identity verification method. Yvette emphasizes that even if you're not currently receiving Social Security benefits, the account can still be useful for estimating future benefits, checking earnings history, and managing Medicare or Social Security cards. Social Security expert Martin Booker adds that the account is also valuable for reviewing earnings records, calculating retirement benefits, filing for disability benefits, and more. The video concludes with resources for additional assistance. No credits were mentioned in the transcript.
Keywords
my Social Security account
benefits
creating an account
identity verification method
estimating future benefits
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