A Constant Quest to Improve Our Online Services
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 6, 2023
We know you’re busy and need ways to be more productive. Our online services make it possible for you to conduct business with us when and where it’s convenient for you. Our goal is to provide you with world-class service and our online services are a convenient, cost-effective, and secure way for us to better serve you.
On our website, you can apply for retirement, spouse’s, disability, and Medicare benefits. You can use our benefit planners to calculate your future benefits. You can also find answers to your frequently asked questions. You can even apply for Extra Help to pay for the costs—monthly premiums, annual deductibles, and prescription co-payments—related to a Medicare prescription drug plan.
In addition, by opening a personal my Social Security account, you can keep track of your earnings and verify them every year by reviewing your Social Security Statement. You can get an instant benefit verification letter or one stating that you don’t currently receive benefits, never received benefits, or are waiting for an answer on your application for benefits.
If you receive benefits, you also can:
- Change your address or telephone number;
- Start or change your direct deposit;
- Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for your taxes; and
- Replace your Medicare card.
We frequently review our online services looking for new and useful enhancements to meet our customers’ changing needs. Your feedback is important to us when deciding how we can better serve you, so use this blog to let us know.
We continue to use updated technology and innovative ideas to expand our online services at www.socialsecurity.gov. And although our online services can be handled easily from the comfort of your home or office, our in-person services are still available to you. We are committed to meeting your needs and preferences in how you like to conduct business with us.
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Tags: Disability, Medicare, my Social Security, online services, Social Security benefits, SSA, SSI
See CommentsAbout the Author
Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
Comments
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MARY L.
I would love to use the on-line services. On Feb 1, 2010, I signed up and received a confirmation email. I noted all security items/passwords that I used but have never been able to sign in again. Several years ago, I had emailed and received a response that I need to go to a physical SS Office to rectify the problem. I never did. I do everything on line, I open bank accounts on-line, I pay bills on-line, all with no problem except unable to re-sign-in to SS. I wish I didn’t have to find and drive to a SS Office to fix stuff.
R.F.
Hello Mary. If you are having difficulties with your personal my Social Security account, please call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. After you hear “Briefly tell me why you are calling,” say “Help Desk” for help with a my Social Security account. If the representatives in the “Help Desk” cannot help you, then it might be best to visit your local Social Security office for further assistance. Thanks!
Tom
While your benefits are protected under mandatory federal expenditures, that is not the case for the agency that serves you. Only 1/3 of the federal budget is “discretionary” which is not a lot of turf to fight over. Repetitive cuts are slowly bleeding that part of the budget. Over 36 years of 2% here, 7% there, it all adds up. If you still have a local office, you are fortunate even if understaffed. If not, it lost too much staff and became less cost-effective to justify maintaining. Online services take time to develop and especially make safe, while they also require hardware. This puts the public in a difficult position. However, hardware is another expenditure that is part of “discretionary” spending. As all of us learned in our civics courses, the House controls the purse strings. So while you worked hard to pay for these services, the House determines what you actually get back on your investment!
Barb
Why did only the first 2 posts get a reply. We all would like to see responses so that it will answer questions for everyone. This blog is not helpful if there are no answers to questions. Thank you.
Betty g.
I have never gotten answers to detailed questions! I want answers too.
Betty Gordon, iowa
Raymond C.
Because this is their modes operandi!
R.F.
Our apologies Barb. We get many questions through our Social Security Matters Blog postings and we always attempt to respond to as many of the comments and questions as we possibly can. Our goal is to give readers information about a variety of topics, including our programs, online services, current events, and human-interest stories, usually in greater detail than typically shared on our other social media platforms. If we missed your question, consider re-submitting it again. Thanks
Perriann
Do you have plans to expand on-line services to Organizational Rep Payees? Right now, we are limited to submitting annual rep payee accounting forms via on-line business services, which works great; however for other beneficiary needs, we have to resort to phoning, faxing and mailing letters to our local office, which is very inefficient. We are unable to send secure e-mails to our local office, since they will not accept our secure encryption service. Yet, SSA does not provide a secure e-mail alternative. Any expansion of on-line or secure, electronic capabilities that you can develop for organizational rep payees would be greatly appreciated.
Pedro
El servicio es excelente.
John O.
Y eso es justo tanta mierda.
R.F.
Thank you! For information in Spanish, please visit us at http://www.segurosocial.gov or http://www.facebook.com/segurosocial.
Arun D.
Anytime I need to make change in the Tax withholding deduction rate from Social Security, It takes multiple mailings of W4-V forms to SSA, making long wait calls to SSA and it is very frustrating for seniors like me.
I have mailed Form W4-V Two (2) times. First time on 2/5/2016 and then again in 4/2016 after talking to your office and they informed me that they did not receive the first form. I am frustrated and disappointed with SSA, as to why it takes so much time for such a simple matter.
Suggestion:
When SSA allow recipients to make changes to the Bank Information for direct deposit online, why SSA does not allow people to make changes for withholding rate online? There is more security concern involved in allowing people to change BANK Info than the withholding rate change.
Please do not tell me that SSA has been doing great things, please implement this simple online change.
Thank you.
R.F.
We value your thoughts and suggestions as we look for ways to improve the services we offer. Your feedback is greatly appreciated!
Carlos F.
In the future I’ll need an Award Letter. Would be possible to get it on line?
Thank you
R.F.
Great news Carlos! If you already receive Social Security benefits, you can manage your benefits and you can view, print, and save your benefit verification letter at any time with a my Social Security account.
Richard F.
I am in search of an Advocate to resolve a six month old issue. Every time we have contact there is another 30 day delay. The SSA acknowledges there is a payment problem but cannot seem to get it resolved.
Durham
As a Rep I used to complete the i-3368 pro. When this went away it made the case processing time slower. Applications are best completed by trained Claims Reps but the Adult Disability (3368) is best completed by Attys/Reps. Please separate them again.
John O.
The 3368 can be filled out by an applicant and then reviewed by a claims representative. There is NO point in getting an attorney involved in this step unless you want to waste your time and throw your money away.
paula r.
I live in Canada and receive social security benefits. However, I am unable to set up an account because I do not live in the United States. Any suggestions? thank you
R.F.
We apologize for the inconvenience Paula. At this time you must have a U. S. mailing address to create or to access your online account. The “my Social Security” authentication system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for issuing an account. People with APO/FPO/DPO addresses can create an account overseas, but our system does not support registration and account creation for users with a foreign address yet. For assistance related to your Social Security benefits, you may contact the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate in your area by phone or email. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps!
Raymond C.
This is more boiler plate response. I live outside the USA and have had this problem. The country in which I live has a FBU (Federal Benefits Unit) but they serve as a buffer for the Baltimore Office of International whatever….. By this I mean that the Embassy’s do not seem either to be able to produce more information or status reports. I am waiting for plus 3 months now for a reply from the Embassy on a spousal benefits claim that was made plus 9 months ago! So I suggest that one needs lower one’s expectation.