Social Security statements now online

Until last year, Social Security sent taxpayers an annual personalized statement showing a complete record of their taxable earnings as well as estimated retirement, disability and survivor benefits based on those earnings. Unfortunately, budget constraints put an end to those yearly mailings.

But there’s good news: Social Security has resumed mailing paper statements to workers 60 and older who aren’t already receiving benefits. And, they recently launched a new Social Security Statement tool that allows a person to access the same information online.

Once an individual creates an account, they can log in anytime to:

• Estimate retirement, disability and survivor benefits

• Estimate benefits family members would be eligible for when a person receiving Social Security dies.

• View a list of lifetime earnings to date, according to Social Security’s records

• See estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes paid by an individual

• Find information about qualifying and signing up for Medicare.

• Review topics for those 55 or older and thinking about retiring.

• Apply online for retirement and disability benefits.

• Access a printable version of a Social Security Statement.

To create an online account, go to http://www.ssa.gov/mystatement and follow the directions. You must have a valid email address, Social Security number, U.S. mailing address, and be at least age 18. Certain personal information is required to verify the identity of the person creating the account.

Jason Alderman directs Visa’s financial education programs.