By Kirk Larson

Social Security Western Washington Public Affairs Specialist

This new Social Security tool is a personalized online account that people can use beginning in their working years and continuing throughout the time they receive Social Security benefits. For many years, the Social Security Administration sent Benefit Statement in the mail to all individuals working and paying into Social Security. SSA will no longer provide those annual mailers.

If you have not started benefits you can – get a personalized online Social Security Benefit Statement. The online Statement provides eligible workers with secure and convenient access to their Social Security earnings and benefit information, and estimates of future benefits they can use to plan for their retirement. You can see year by year how much money you made. In addition, the portal includes links to information about other online services, such as applications for retirement, disability, and Medicare.

If you are already receiving benefits you can – access benefit verification letters, payment history, and earnings record instantly using their online account. Social Security beneficiaries also can change their address or change direct deposit information online. In the future additional services will be available.

People age 18 and older can sign up for an account and after completing the secure verification process, create a My Social Security account with a unique user name and password to access their information.

For more information, please go to http://www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount/

Kirk Larson is a Social Security Administration Public Affairs Specialist located in Seattle and serving Western Washington