Ten Years of my Social Security Means You Can Do More
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 2, 2023
Ten years ago, we launched our my Social Security service to offer more secure and convenient self-service options online. Initially, the service supported two types of actions:
- People receiving Social Security benefits could view their benefit information.
- People not receiving benefits could check their Social Security Statement to see estimates of future benefits and their earnings history.
Since then, we’ve added many features that make doing business online with Social Security easier for most people with access to the internet. Today, nearly 70 million people have signed up for a my Social Security account to conduct their business online securely and conveniently!
If you haven’t signed up yet, please visit our website to create your my Social Security account free-of-charge. Or if you haven’t used your account recently, check out the impressive list of self-service options.
What can you do with your online account?
If you don’t currently receive benefits, you can:
- Request a replacement Social Security card (if you meet certain requirements).
- View your Social Security Statement to see future benefit estimates, compare different dates or ages to begin receiving benefits, and review your earnings history.
- Get instant status of your application for benefits.
- Get instant proof you do not receive Social Security, Medicare, or Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
If you receive benefits, you can:
- Request a replacement Social Security card (if you meet certain requirements).
- Request a replacement Medicare card.
- Get instant benefit verification or proof of income letter of Social Security, Medicare, and SSI.
- Start or change your direct deposit.
- Change your address and telephone number.
- Check your information and benefit amount.
- Get an instant Social Security 1099 form (SSA-1099) or SSA-1042S.
- Report your wages if you work and receive disability benefits and SSI.
Sign in to your my Social Security account now.
If they haven’t done so yet, encourage your friends and family to sign up for their personal my Social Security account today.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: General Information, my Social Security, my Social Security account
See CommentsAbout the Author
Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Michele
I wish you could access the Benefits Planning Query through the portal http://www.ssa.gov
Marco
My wife and I are about same age (60). My contributions were a little bigger than hers. If I die before we apply for benefits will she be able to request my benefits (bigger annuity) instead of hers? Thanks
P.S. This is the 2nd time I’m asking this on this blog. I didn’t get an answer before.
STS
Survivors get whichever benefits are higher, based on their own or on their deceased spouses’ work records.
A.C.
Hi, Marco. Thanks for your question. The amount of a widow/widower’s benefit is based on several factors, including: the earnings of your sopuse, when the spouse started receiving their benefits, the age of the widow/widower, and the amount of their own retirement benefit. We compare their own benefit with their potential survivor benefit. If the survivor benefit would be higher than their own current retirement benefit, they would be eligible for survivor benefits. For more information, please visit our Planning For Your Survivors page. We hope this helps.
Lorraine
Please stop resizing the photos from their native aspect ratio (as shown above) to the rectangular one in the newsletters. It looks terrible.
There does not seem to be a way to contact you other than these comments. Using the Help link in the newsletter directs you to a third-party that is no help at all.
A.C.
Hi, Lorraine. Thanks for your comment. 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.
Tony
We can do more if we get a bigger COLA raise.
These Democrats are trying to temporarily lower gas prices for 3 months and lower our COLA for the 3 months in which it is calculated. The gas tax holiday is a very bad idea for people on Social Security.
After the 3 months, everything will sky rocket in price and the little COLA raise we get because of the Democrats won’t pay for anything.
Jim D.
New to the receiving process of Social Security as up till lately I’ve always been on the paying end. During the “paying” days, I was always able to see what amounts of my paycheck went to various entities, like SS/Medicare/Fed taxes/etc. For some reason, the only notice I get on the “receiving” end of Social Security is an alert from my bank that a deposit was made. Is it that hard to break down the payment? I guess my Medicare premiums are being paid? I search the various websites and some say I’m enrolled in all of the required Medicare products, and some say I need to call Medicare to inquire, who when called tell me to call Social Security.
Is it really that hard in 21st century? Or is it something else?
A.C.
Hi, Jim. Thanks for visiting our blog. We are sorry to hear about your frustration. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Please contact your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
STS
Enroll in My Medicare and you can see the information you seek. (Don’t know why the person from SocSec did not suggest that!)
Kathy H.
In April of 2010, I was award SSDI
AND SSI payments by the ADMINISTATIVE LAW JUDGE. Recieved lump sum payment, ALJ suggested I have PAYEE, PAYEE was intimidated by relative to take $9,000 of money that was supposed to go back to SSA. SSA Had me pay it back, 2nd PAYEE added my account to his business account, kept my money that was left over at end of month, making my account overdrawn several times, 3rd PAYEE would take money from my account, did not send in Accounting to SSA, they took my intire check from me. 4th PAYEE,. CCCS was appointed my PAYEE, I can’t even talk to them because they said they aren’t affiliated with The PAYEE program anymore, I am with financial pathways representative payee program. YET THE CONSUMER CREDIT COUNSELING SERVICE IS STILL RECEIVING MY CHECKS AT TRUIST BANK. I can’t even get a copy my 1099s from them. “STILL HAVEN’T RECIEVED MY 5.9% RAISE, FINANCIAL PATHWAYS ARE PAYING THEM 48.00 dollars per month from my account, I am still unable to talk to them face to face or see my record. WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON, HOW CAN THE GIVE TO ANOTHER PAYEE PROGRAM, NOT INFORM SSA OR ME, I didn’t authorize them to give my account to them!!!
A.C.
Hi, Kathy. Thanks for visiting our blog. We are sorry to hear about your situation. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Ronald E.
Can i sign in and have account , i am living in foreign country. Maybe it might help in ways, as if i was living in USA.
A.C.
Hi, Ronald. Thanks for visiting our blog. Unfortunately, you must have a U.S. mailing address to create and access a personal my Social Security account. However, since you are living outside of the U.S., you contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.
Ozcan A.
What does US Mailing address mean?İ am living in Turkiye and i am using my friend address in N.Y to receive my mail Also my N.Y drivers licence has my US address. So can İ apply for My Social Security online ???
A.C.
Hi, Ozcan. Thanks for visiting our blog. Since you are living outside of the U.S., please contact your local Federal Benefits Unit for any assistance related to Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this helps.