15 Things You Can Do Online – Motley's Fool

Social security is the most vital social resource of our country. Every month, more than 63 million benefit checks are sent, allowing more than a third of beneficiaries to get out of poverty. Among retired workers aged 62 and over, 62% pay their monthly salary to make up at least half of their income. In other words, it's very important for the financial health of tens of millions of Americans.

But it's also a program that many people do not fully understand the ins and outs.

For example, over time, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has transferred its resources online for current and future beneficiaries. Decades ago, virtually any issue or action required an in-person call or visit with an SSA employee. This is not to say that SSA employees are not ready to help people over the phone or in person if they have a question or need help. But you would probably be surprised at how much you can do online with a "my Social Security" account or via the Social Security website.

With that in mind, here are 15 things you may not know you can do online.

1. Apply for a replacement social security card

Losing important documents is never fun, especially when it comes to your social security card. The good news is that the SSA allows you to apply for a replacement card online in most states. As long as you're 18 or older, do not ask for a name change or any other change to your card and you have a valid driver's license or a driver's license issued by the state, most states (32 to total) will allow this action online.

The exceptions? In Delaware and Wisconsin, you must have a driver's license for this service (licenses issued by a state do not work). In the following 16 states, this service is not yet available: Alabama, Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Kansas, Minnesota. , Nevada, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, Tennessee, Utah and West Virginia.

2. Change your address and / or your phone number

With a "my social security" account, you can change your personal information, including your address and phone number, in the "My Profile" section. Plus, you decide when the change of address will take effect, which can be done well before the move.

According to the SSA, people benefiting from a social security benefit and Medicare registrants can use their "my social security" account to change their address and other contact information. This service is not available for individuals who receive an Additional Security Allowance (SSI) or who do not reside in the United States.

3. Request and print a verification letter of benefits

You can also go online to request a benefit verification letter. Sometimes called a "proof of income" letter, "social benefits letter" or "budget letter", it proves that you are receiving Social Security income or not. This letter can be requested online and printed as proof of income when applying for a loan or mortgage, an application for housing assistance or other benefits granted by the state or local authorities.

Your "social security" account will also allow you to select the information you want to keep or exclude from the final print copy.

4. Review your social security statement

The most compelling reason to create a "my social security" account (and the reason I created it) is to keep an eye on your social security statement. Already sent every five years by mail to workers aged 25 to 60, your online account gives you access to your estimated monthly payment at retirement age at any time of your choice.

It is only an estimate, which will prove more accurate with the approach of the retirement age. However, just knowing where you are from the point of view of payments is an important part of the puzzle when planning for retirement.

5. View the history of your winnings

Similar to the previous point, you can also use your statement to check the history of your winnings online. Although the SSA is an extremely efficient agency, with less than 0.7% of all revenue collected by the program covering its operating expenses, it can make mistakes. If you detect a tax return error before applying for your benefit, it is much easier to correct than to discover an error after the fact.

6. Use the SSA Retirement, Disability or Survivors Planner

Another relatively inexpensive resource you can find on the Social Security Main Website is its Benefit Planning Page for Retired Workers, People with Disabilities and Survivors. Each planner describes how you or your family would be eligible for benefits, describes some of the benefits you may not have been eligible to receive, and details how and when you should apply (at least for the benefit planner. retirement).

7. Apply for retirement benefits or spousal benefits from Social Security

Of course, this may be the most important decision you make as a senior – deciding when to start receiving benefits – but it does not have to be complicated. Although you can talk to an SSA employee by phone or make an appointment in person, you can also apply for pension or spousal benefits online through the Social Security main website. Better still, the app can often be completed in as little as 15 minutes.

To apply, you must be at least 61 years old and not currently receiving benefits based on your income. In addition, your benefits can not start more than four months in the future. This is why the minimum age for applying is 61 years and eight months, since the first retirement age for workers is 62. The basics of security "that the SSA suggests to know before applying online.

8. Apply for disability or additional security benefits on social security

Similar to the above, the SSA also allows people to apply for Disability Insurance (DI) and Social Security Income Security benefits online (if you also meet the requirements for SSI).

To apply online for disability insurance benefits, you must be at least 18 years of age, not currently receiving benefits based on your earnings statement and unable to work due to a medical condition that should last at least one year. or more. cause death. An additional addition is that you can not apply online if you have been denied disability benefits in the last 60 days.

9. Start or modify the direct deposit of your benefit

It's your money, so get it faster! Set up the direct deposit of your monthly benefit check into your "My Social Security" account under the "My Profile" tab. People currently receiving social security benefits can update their direct deposit information at any time, as well as decide when the changes will take effect.

As with other changes via the My Profile tab, this service is not available to people who are receiving SSI or have an address outside of the United States.

10. Report wages if you are currently receiving disability insurance or disability insurance

Another practical function of the "my social security" account is that it allows recipients of Disability Insurance and Supplementary Security Income Supplement to report their earnings online. This service is available to those directly benefiting from these benefits, as well as their mandated representatives, who may include one or more parents or a spouse.

Quick Note: This is not a service provided to recipients who are receiving a retired worker's allowance.

11. Check the status of a request or a call

If you are really impatient like yours, your "social security" account also allows you to view the status of a claim for benefits or an appeal for a denied claim. Online users will be able to see:

• When the SSA received its request or appeal.
• The date and time when a hearing was scheduled.
• The place of complaint and appeal must be programmed.
• If a decision on their request or appeal has been made.

12. Print your SSA-1099

One of the most common requests made to social security recipients by the SSA concerns the SSA-1099 form, which indicates the benefits received the previous year. This form is often required before claimants can complete their tax return. The good news is that recipients can go online and print their 1099 directly from the source, which is especially useful if you are still doing paper archiving, as opposed to electronic archiving.

13. Get an SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S replacement for tax purposes

If, for some unfortunate reason, you have lost or misplaced your SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S, you can get an instant replacement with your "my Social Security" account. An SSA-1042S would be allocated to non-citizens residing outside the United States who were receiving social security income or to beneficiaries who were receiving and then repaying benefits the previous year. Once logged into your account, select the "Replacement Documents" tab to replace your lost or misplaced tax forms.

14. Get a replacement health insurance card

Since the Social Security Administration also oversees Medicare, the country's largest health care program for seniors, you can apply for a replacement Medicare card through your "my Social Security" account. If it is lost, stolen or destroyed, you can go to the "Replacement Documents" tab of your "My Social Security" account and select "Sending my replacement Medicare card". According to the SSA, you should receive your new card in the mail in about 30 days.

15. Apply for health insurance and additional assistance

Finally, you can also use the main Social Security website to apply for Medicare benefits, as well as the Extra Help program, which can help reduce the cost of Medicare's prescription drug plan. The Extra Help program is estimated at about $ 4,900 per year by SSA. To be eligible, you must have limited income and resources and Medicare.

As you can see, you can do a lot more online with Social Security (and Medicare) than you probably thought.