Your Social Security Statement is an important document that helps you understand your future benefits and earnings history. It is available online through my Social Security account, which millions of people use to access critical information.
How to access your social security statement
The easiest way to view your Social Security Statement is to create an online My Social Security account. This account provides secure access to your statement at any time.
For those aged 60 and older who do not have an account, the Social Security Administration (SSA) mails statements automatically three months before their birthday. However, opening an online account offers many more benefits.
Benefits of my social security account
Having a my Social Security account provides several advantages, including
- Secure access to your statement anytime.
- The ability to update your mailing address and contact details.
- A way to verify your reported earnings and ensure their accuracy.
- Estimating future benefits based on different retirement ages.
If you already receive benefits, this account also allows you to access your cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notice earlier than waiting for it in the mail.
Faster processing with online forms
A growing number of Social Security forms are now available online, eliminating the need for traditional wet signatures. This makes submitting documents faster, easier, and more convenient.
SSA encourages users to submit necessary forms online through their accounts to reduce processing delays.
Online notifications and alerts
Many Social Security notices are now available electronically. Users can opt to receive notifications online instead of by mail. Signing up for email or text alerts ensures you get notified as soon as a new notice is available, reducing the risk of missing important updates.
Access for those living overseas
People living outside the United States can also access their online Social Security Statements, but only for domestic earnings. To do so, they need to create an account using ID.me. More details can be found at www.ssa.gov/foreign.
New and Improved Social Security Statement
The Social Security Statement has been redesigned to make it easier to read and navigate. Some of the key updates include:
- A bar graph displaying personalized retirement benefit estimates at nine different ages.
- A complete earnings history to help verify accuracy.
- Instructions on how to report errors in earnings records.
Why You Should Review Your Statement Annually
Checking your Social Security Statement every year is important. Errors in your earnings history could impact your future benefits. Reviewing it annually ensures everything is correct and up to date.
Your personal statement may look slightly different based on your specific age group and work history.
Social Security Statement Sample Options
Depending on your situation, there are different versions of the Social Security Statement available:
- Online Statement (for those with a my Social Security account)
- Statement for People with Noncovered Earnings (for those with earnings not covered by Social Security)
- Mailed Statement (for those who receive physical copies)
Fact sheets are now included with statements
To provide even more useful information, new fact sheets have been added to Social Security Statements. These fact sheets help explain Social Security programs and benefits based on your age and earnings situation.
Here are some of the fact sheets available:
- Retirement Ready (for workers aged 18-48)
- Retirement Ready (for workers aged 49-60)
- Retirement Ready (for workers aged 61-69)
- Retirement Ready (for workers aged 70 and up)
- Social Security Basics for New Workers
- How You Become Eligible for Benefits
- Additional Work Can Increase Your Future Benefits
- You Have Earnings Not Covered by Social Security
- Medicare Ready
- Supplemental Security Income and Other Benefits
Your Social Security Statement is a valuable tool for understanding your benefits and planning for retirement. Creating a my Social Security account ensures easy, secure access to this important information, helping you stay informed about your financial future.
