Social Security Benefits Portal
In 2020 Social Security redesigned the retirement benefits portal at www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement. Keeping you informed about our products and services, and helping you prepare for making decisions that will affect your benefits is very important to us. Preparing for retirement is one of the most important decisions you can make.
Our website has helped millions of people get ready for and apply for retirement. But we heard your feedback that you also want to:
- Find the information you need without reading through too many pages.
- Learn about the benefits in a clear and concise way.
- Be better prepared to apply for retirement online.
- Learn how to manage your personal my Social Security account online.
We made our redesigned retirement benefits portal more user-friendly and easier to navigate, whether you are ready to learn about, apply for, or manage your retirement benefits. You’ll find the new portal eye-pleasing, informative, and optimized for mobile devices. We also improved how we list our information on search engines to make it easier for you to find outside our website.
The new Retirement Benefits portal is just the first of several steps we are taking to improve your experience on our website. Visit our new retirement benefits portal today at www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement to Learn, Apply, and Manage your retirement benefits and subscribe to receive retirement information and updates.
Social Security in Plain Language
We strive to explain your benefits using easy-to-understand, plain language. The Plain Writing Act of 2010 requires federal agencies to communicate clearly in a way“the public can understand and use.” This can be particularly challenging when talking about complicated programs like Social Security, Supplemental Security Income, and Medicare. If there’s a technical term or acronym that you don’t know, you can easily find the meaning in our online glossary at www.ssa.gov/agency/glossary.
Using my Social Security
There are countless reasons why you can benefit from using your personal my Social Security account. Here are five that highlight why opening an account today can help you and the people you love.
Saving you time
There’s no need to leave your home when using the features of my Social Security. 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. All you have to do is log in or create an account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Security
When you open an account, it prevents someone else from possibly creating an account in your name. And, we use the two-step authentification to verify you are the one signing into your account. Your personal information is very important to us. You can access your personal information safely and securely using my Social Security.
Reassurance
Did you know you can see your entire work history with your personal my Social Security account? This allows you to verify if your employers reported your earnings to us correctly. This is very important. Accurate wage reporting will ensure you get the benefits you earned when you begin receiving benefits.
Planning for your Future
Retirement planning is essential for a secure future. The Retirement Calculator lets you enter the age or date when you expect to begin receiving benefits to generate an estimated benefit amount. If you enter your estimated future salary amount, that will be included when calculating the estimated benefit amount. You can also view your estimated disability benefit on the Estimate Benefits page.
Control
A personal my Social Security account gives you the control to conduct your Social Security business wherever and whenever you want without needing to speak with a representative. You can check the status of your claim, get an instant proof of benefits letter or copy of your SSA-1099, and more. And people in most states can request a replacement Social Security card. Check out www.ssa.gov/myaccount and put yourself in control.
Social Security Express Portal
Access Social Security Express here for your portal to SocialSecurity.gov. Find essential retirement, benefits, disability, and Medicare information and resources.
For More Information
Read the Social Security Connection newsletter to see what you can do online. Topics covered include how to see your lifetime learnings, benefits planner, ways to use social security online, avoiding social security scams and frequently answered questions.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpted from August 2020 Social Security Monthly Information Package
By Jacqueline Weisgarber, Social Security Public Affairs Specialist in Richmond, Virginia