Retirement, Survivors

You and Social Security, Together for a Lifetime

May 31, 2018 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: November 3, 2023

two women smiling togetherSocial Security is with you throughout life’s journey. During May, we celebrate Older Americans Month, and we want to highlight how we are here for you. We’re there when you get your first job, when you get married, and through years of work when you are paying Social Security taxes. Our programs serve as vital financial protection for millions of Americans, and part of our journey together includes making sure you know what that protection means to you in your later years.

We’re there to help you stay in control of your benefits with our online services — helping you do business with us from your preferred location. For example, if you damage or lose your Medicare card, you can order a replacement card easily with a personal my Social Security account. Having a personal my Social Security account helps free up your time to do other things that truly matter to you.

If the time comes when you can no longer manage your benefits, you can count on Social Security to be there. Our Representative Payee Program helps millions of beneficiaries who cannot manage their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits. A representative payee is a trusted family member, friend, or institution who can receive and manage the funds we pay for someone who receives benefits.

Your representative payee receives the payments on your behalf and must use the money to pay for your needs, which include housing and utilities, food, medical and dental expenses, personal care items, clothing, and rehabilitation expenses (if you’re disabled).

Your representative payee can use the rest of your benefit money to pay the cost of your care and provide money for your personal needs. Social Security looks for qualified individuals or organizations to represent you.

Working with a representative payee is just one of the ways Social Security helps you secure today and tomorrow. Visit our representative payee website for more information.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Mrs. D.

    Hello……need assistance with My Social Network.

  2. Mrs. D.

    Help

    • Mrs. D.

      Need help with My Social network.

  3. Mrs. D.

    I know I keep requesting a code/password to open MY SOCIAL SECURITY,but once again I need help. Once I receive it My granddaughter and only my granddaughter will assist me in setting up MY SOCIAL SECURITY account. Please send a code/password through the mail.

    My granddaughter Samantha Rae Michelle Wilson, is an adult now and I trust her confidentiality and with my life. She turned 21 and this year she will be 22. When time comes she and only she will be my confidant/care giver.

    I apologize for the inconvenience.

    Thank you,

    Deborah A. Kersting

    P. S. I have been diagnosed with DEMENTIA. When I get to the point where I need assistance, what documentation do I need for Samantha to fill out?

    • Mary

      Could the social security helper on this website please answer a simple question that is really confusing to me? I am waiting until I turn 70 to claim my retirement benefits in order to receive maximum benefits. I only have a few months left. What I am wondering is, if I turn 70 on the last day of a month, when should I apply? I read somewhere here on this website that I should apply 3 months in advance. But I don’t understand whether I would count that from the first of the month that I turn 70 or the 30th or 31st of the month, based on my birthday. For example, if my 70th birthday were the last day of November, the 30th, would I apply on August 30 or on August 1st or September 1st?
      I guess what I want to know is when your birthday is the last day of a month do they count it as the beginning of your 70th birthday month or count it on the 1st of the next month after having fully completed your 70th birthday????

      Thanks in advance for your help.

      • R.F.

        Thank you for your question, Mary. Yes, our system is set up to take applications three months in advance. In the example you provide, if your birthday is the last day of the month of November, you’ll want to select November as the month of entitlement. Remember that benefits are paid the month after they are due. So, for instance, if your benefits begin with the month of November, you will receive your first benefit payment in December.
        We hope this information helps!

  4. Joyce b.

    I can’t urinate since early morning or poop since yesterday what can I do

  5. Scot M.

    Caps need raised and the trust fund needs locked, because it would be horrible for our elderly to go back to the days before August of 1935 of extreme poverty and loss of dignity.

  6. Piglet

    Hello, I am interested to know if there will be any ride on or zero turn lawn mower representative there to ask questions. I would appreciate any feed back. Kind regards. John customer essay

  7. William D.

    Very thought out, and easy to navigate !

    Thanks

  8. Jerry B.

    I am a military person looking for y Note of Award Letter. Can you send me a copy to my yahoo account?

  9. Sandy

    Can I set up a ‘my Social Security’ account for my late husband? I would like to be able to see what the payouts would be, as I plan to collect his amount and let mine grow until 70.

  10. steven J.

    I am needing medical help and money for medical payments for an ongoing disease.
    Steven Adlawan

Comments are closed.