My Social Security’s Four Super Powers
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 2, 2023
Did you know having a personal my Social Security account is almost like having super powers? Think about it. It protects you, and you can even look into your financial future. Check out these four features that can empower all working Americans who pay into Social Security.
Saves You Time
You may think you need to speak with a Social Security representative to check your application status, set up or change direct deposit, or request a replacement Social Security card. But you don’t! All you have to do is log in or create your personal my Social Security account. Take care of your Social Security business from home or away when it’s convenient for you.
Security Protection
Your personal information is very important to us. When you create an account, it prevents someone else from possibly creating an account in your name. We use two-step authentication to verify you are the one logging in to your account. Our security measures allow you to access your personal information safely and securely using my Social Security.
Reassurance
Did you know you can see your entire earnings history with your personal my Social Security account? Do you know why it’s important to check it and make sure it’s accurate? Your future benefits are based on your earnings history. You won’t receive all the benefits you should if our records understate your real earnings. Use your account to verify if your employers reported your earnings to us correctly. We tell you how to correct an error if you find one.
Plan for your Future
Retirement planning is essential for a secure future. And your personal my Social Security account makes it easy. You can view your retirement estimates when you enter the age or date when you expect to begin receiving benefits and your estimated future salary amount. You can also view your estimated disability benefit on the Estimate Benefits page.
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Tags: General Information, my Social Security, my Social Security account, online services
See CommentsAbout the Author
Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Comments
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Vicki P.
Why is it every time we get a cost of living raise Medicare increases the same amount so there is actually no increase to the recipient?
R R.
Excellent article. Very exciting to read this post. I love to read such an excellent article. I read this article in the Moviesda
Jerry S.
The Social Security cost-of-living raise is indexed to inflation and medical costs also rise with inflation so it’s no surprise that they both go up at the same time. Both Social Security and Medicare funds are underfunded so holding Medicare premiums constant while Medicare claims are rising would simply hasten the date of reckoning.
Dale R.
I would like to start receiving my social security checks in Feb or March. I am 66+1 month this January. In Feb will be 2 months. Do I start receiving benefits in Feb or March for the full amount?Thank you
V.V.
Hi Dale, thanks for using our blog. If you wait until your full retirement age, you will get your full benefit. If your full retirement age is 66 and 2 months and you turn 66 in December, you will attain your full retirement age in February. One exception to that is for individuals that are born on the 1st of the month. We figure their benefit (and their full retirement age) as if their birthday was in the previous month.
Your full retirement age is determined by your year of birth. You can check out our Benefits By Year Of Birth web page to understand why some people have different full retirement ages and what those ages are.
Social Security benefits are paid the month after they are due. So, if you want your benefits to begin with February, you will receive your first benefit payment in March. The exact payment date is determined by your date of birth. For 2022 payment dates, you may find the Schedule of Social Security Payments calendar useful.
Our system is set up to take applications four months in advance. When you’re ready to apply, you can apply online.
If you are unable or would rather not apply online, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. We hope this information helps.
Kathy J.
I filed for ss when I turned 62. My husband just turned 66 so he just now filed. My question is how do I refile on his?
V.V.
Hi Kathy, thanks for using our blog. We will always pay your own retirement benefit first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. However, the spouse’s benefit cannot exceed one-half of your husband’s full retirement amount (not his reduced benefit amount). So, you can only receive additional spouse’s benefits if your own full retirement benefit (not your reduced benefit) is less than half of your husband’s full retirement benefit.
To find out if you are eligible for a higher benefit amount, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. We hope this information helps.
Walter H.
In case what Vonda indicated is not totally clear to you, what she/he is saying is that you took early retirement Social Security at age 62. Full social security benefits would have only applied to you at 67, and the same goes for your husband. Had you waited until 67 you would be getting substantially more each month, and it is this full benefit amount that needs to be less than one half your husband’s full benefit amount (the amount he would receive each month if he waited until he was 67 to begin receiving Social Security) for you to receive a spouse’s benefit. Perhaps yours is less than one half his full benefit, but hopefully this message will help you understand exactly what she/he was writing about so you can see on your own if this possibility exists.
Celeste
I have been on disability since 2015 and have had permanent guardianship of my 10 year old great niece since 2018. Can she receive benfits on my disability?
Bert L.
Trying to log in via login.gov
User name and password are accepted but I am not getting a “one time code” as it says I should.
What am I doing wrong?
A.C.
Hi, Bert. We are sorry to hear you have had difficulty accessing your personal my Social Security account. If you are still unable to access your account or encounter a problem with your personal my Social Security account, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “help desk.” We hope this helps.
surbhi n.
nice post
Bridgette S.
My original disability date was Dec. 2019. I had a hearing in OCT. 28, 2021. The judge strongly suggested an amended date of Dec. 2020. Her reasoning was there were no doctor visits related to my to disabling conditions. The year 2020 was the year of the “Stay at Home” Federal, state & local orders. I have been punished for not disobeying these orders and going to healthcare facilities. Yes, I could request an appeal review HOWEVER, my favorable decision could be recinded at the appeal review of the amended date. I should not have to risk the favorable decision being overturned for adhering to the federal, state and local stay at home orders. Has this happened to anyone else?
Eva A.
I keep getting texts telling me too report my earnings.i am on s.s and am still working will that increase my check?. Why are they asking me to up date don’t they have record of my wages
V.V.
Hi Eva, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Each year we review the records for all Social Security recipients who work. If your latest year of earnings turns out to be one of your highest years, we refigure your benefit and pay you any increase due. This is an automatic process, and benefits are paid in December of the following year. For example, in December 2021, you should get an increase for your 2020 earnings if those earnings raised your benefit. The increase would be retroactive to January 2021.
Check out our Receiving Benefits While Working web page for more details.
Livingston
Good Morning! With the upmost respect and appreciation, I have to say I have posted many times here on this website the following commen and question:
There are a lot of Social Security recepients, like me, who are living overseas because we can not afford to live on our retirement incomes in the USA. SSA, will not allow us to make or create an: “my social security account”. We especially need this service as here in Latin America, the SSA office has been consolidated and moved to the American Embassy in Costa Rica. This is not working, because direct contact via email has faile for the last 3 years, no internacional mail services are available anymore here in Guatemala to send SSA documents and there is a long waiting time for direct phone calls, and the international cost per minute is unbelievably expensive. No one has ever answered this question as to WHY yo will Not give us an account when we have Internacional Banking online accounts with the private sector banks. This does not make any intelectual sense. So, in conclusion: The online account capabilities would solve a lot of our problems and stop the feelings that we have been abandoned. Again, as always, with the most respect, Thank you for your support.
V.V.
Hi Livingston, thank you for using our blog and we appreciate your comments. You can submit feedback by visiting our Contact Social Security page. Once there, select the “Email Us” link. This will take you to the “Email A Question to our Support Team” form, where you can complete and submit a compliment, complaint, or suggestion. We hope this helps.
Maria T.
Can a recipient of Social security survivor’s benefits living abroad open a “My social security account” on line ?