We have all received gifts we’ve wanted to return: ugly socks or sweaters that look exactly like the one you got (or gave!) last year. Sometimes, just letting loved ones know that you’re there for them, no matter what, is the best gift of all. And you avoid the embarrassment of giving an awkward gift! Social Security is also there for you and your family — all year long.
For this holiday season, give your loved ones some peace of mind by introducing them to Social Security’s many programs. While creating new holiday memories, help your family members create a safe and secure my Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. It’s the gift that keeps on giving all year long, with features that let you:
- Get your Social Security Statement, to review:
- Estimates of your future retirement, disability, and survivors benefits;
- Your earnings once a year to verify the amounts that we posted are correct; and
- The estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid.
- Get a benefit verification letter stating that:
- You never received Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicare; or
- You received benefits in the past, but do not currently receive them. The letter will include the date your benefits stopped and how much you received that year; or
- You applied for benefits but haven’t received an answer yet.
Some of us might need extra help because of a disability. We’ve made it easy to apply for disability benefits at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyfordisability.
Additionally, we have resources for family members in the military who have been injured while serving, or are now disabled veterans. They can find out about benefits they may be eligible for at www.socialsecurity.gov/people/veterans.
Your loved ones will also appreciate the gift of convenience! Social Security has many online services that can fit their diverse needs at www.socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.
Receiving support and friendship often means more than material gifts. As you’re exchanging presents this holiday season, remember to also exchange some knowledge, and pass on the effectiveness of my Social Security and our online services. Your loved ones will appreciate it.
Give the gift of security?
You’ve given all of our SS tax withholdings to the federal government in exchange for an IOU. Their IOU is not secure…they’ve spend all of the money, and then some.
They owe a minimum of $20 Trillion.
Why are you lying?
Bruce, Social Security is a pay-as-you-go system. Social Security taxes collected from today’s workers pay the benefits of today’s retirees. Any funds in excess of what is needed to pay today’s benefits are invested in special issue, U.S. Government, interest-bearing securities. This investment – the purchase of U.S. Government securities – is what constitutes the “borrowing” that people are sometimes concerned about. Any funds that have been “borrowed” from the Social Security Trust Funds have always been paid back in full, plus interest. Please check out our Trust Fund Frequently Asked Questions page for more information.
Thanks for the info. It was very helpful.
Thanks for the links and info, Mr. Fernandez. However, many of us collecting still worry about SS solvency, regardless of the promises or expectations of low, intermediate or high assumptions. For example, shouldn’t solvency be addressed immediately with our congressional leaders? I’m not talking about privatizing, reducing benefits, cutting recipients, or gambling with the fund, but maintaining and solidifying existing SS. A question that is always asked is why in the world is there a cap on taxable earnings? Why not make it unlimited for the taxpayer, and put limits on it for the shared contribution from employers? Some of the solutions seem so sensible, but our leaders can’t figure this out. It also might help seniors with a decent COLA every year, instead of a paltry three-tenths of a percent for 2017.
I can answer your question about why there’s a cap on earnings- it’s because the GOPHER have been and continue to protect their wealthy benefactors from having to pay taxes, period. Tax cuts for the wealthy started with GW Bush and the GOP-controlled Congress has fpught to protect those cuts.
Now Mr. Trump has won the elevtoon with vows to cut taxes, and if anyone actually looks at his plan and does the math, it’s crystal clear that only the wealthy will see very, very significant tax cuts, especially corporations who have already paid ZERO taxes while collecting millions in “tax refunds” for over a decade now. It’s all in the official records very easy to find if you just look.
As for solvency of Social Security, Congress hasn’t and doesn’t intend to address that, ever. In fact that’s the LAST thing we Social Security recipients should be sweating right now, especially if you’re on Social Security Disability Insurance from being unable to work anymore. Their plan us, and has been from the start, to ELIMINATE Social Security altogether. That’s what “privatizing” it would do; all the money in it and everything collected going forward would go not to recipients who worked and paid into it all our lives, but to their wealthy buddies who engineered the 2008 crash, the banksters and hedge fund managers who are now going to be, courtesy of Mr. Trump, the top men in charge of handling ALL the financial dealings for the United States, including the Treasury, the Federal Reserve.
Basically, the fox is running the hen house, and he’s illegal to with as many of his fellow foxes as he could find. Let the feasting begin. We are the meal.
Thanks for your comment Ernest!
Why our president Roosevelt set up Social Security was to help all in need, the government should put the trillions of dollars back into the social security. I hope who ever reads these words will help. Every American person is important and our young are having it taken out of their checks deserve help when they get disabled etc…
What Trillions of dollars??
This is an informational site for people who really need answers. Get a heart and maybe a head and stay quiet. No one needs to hear what you have to say.
Honestly Bruce, if you have a problem with Congress, address it to them! And what “lie” are you referring too?
the SSI and SSDI are a joke if you do not meet what they think are the requirments for help you go screw yourself is what you get. I been trying for 5 yrs. Doctors will not let me work with current back problem neck problem ( SPINE) yet the SS say i am fine. Ive tried 3 different law firms.
3 strikes, your out!
No don’t stop or give up ask someone who gets SSI or SS what attorney they used to get there benefits, Everyone should be helped
SS based their remarks on what the doctors told them. Often it is different from what the doctor tells you. Ask to review your medical file and then maybe you’ll see where the problem lies.
mitch,
this is the most important paperwork to be completed by SUPPORTIVE drs. based upon how you are TODAY; not the day you last physically worked!!
8 pages now; i have NOT studied this revised form.
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms/images/SSA4/G-SSA-4734-U8-1.pdf
yes, get a copy of the scanned disk of everything SSDI has on your case so you can see WHY they are turning you down based upon which papers/wording!
good luck! took me 5 yrs. of hell to be approved on 2nd ssdi claim (:
bettyg, iowa
Stop payin them after they r out of office include the president n vice presi.
Well said Carl, although you didn’t mention one vital point. Not only do they get paid after they leave office, they get their government health insurance for life. I’m sure it’s far better insurance than any of us recrive, too. One thing I’ve never understood about Medicare for those if who are under the retirement age who become disabled & forced to go on Social Security Disability Insurance: WHY is there a 2 year waiting period AFTER you are awarded your disability benefits before you become eligible for Medicare? Seems to me those people areally the ones who need Medicare most.
I was one of the “lucky” ones who got approved for SSDI on my first application. Thank God I filed right away and was able to keep my employer sponsored health insurance through COBRA (although it was by no means inexpensive) until I became Medicare eligible. What is the person who was not as lucky as I supposed to do? You can bet former elected officials will never have to worry about that.
I just received the notice of benefits for 2017. With the increase in insurance, my net gain was zero, no change from 2016. Everything is going up, food, insurance, mortgage fee etc.
Seniors are really being taken for a ride, down down and down.
Is it possible to establish a mysocial security accout if I reside abroad?
We appreciate you using our blog to communicate with us! At this time you must have a U. S. mailing address to create or to access your online account. The “my Social Security” authentication system requires address verification as one of the essential criteria for issuing an account. People with APO/FPO/DPO addresses can create an account overseas, but our system does not support registration and account creation for users with a foreign address yet. Please contact your local U.S. embassy or consulate for any assistance related to your Social Security benefits. Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad. We hope this information helps!
Thank you
There is likely no increase in benefit amount for the majority of recipients since the Medicare B premium went up almost 10%, way more than the COLA.
I may have missed it because I don’t have a long period of time to be reading the comments, but why is the amount for women lower than both men and children?
Thank you. Happy Holidays to you all