Since 1939, March has meant one thing in the world of sports: March Madness. In this tournament, 68 college basketball teams compete through the month until only the final four teams remain. Coaches gather their teams to drive home the gravity of the moment, reminding them that they’ve worked hard and that how they respond to the pressure directly determines the outcome.
When it comes to retirement, you can secure your own winning outcome by teaming up with Social Security and taking advantage of services offered online. Start by opening a My Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
What can you do with a My Social Security account? Allow us to introduce you to my Social Security’s own final four.
Use your account to view your Social Security statement and verify your earnings history each year. Your future benefits are based on your recorded earnings.
Stay focused on your financial future by getting estimates of your retirement, disability, and survivor benefits, if you are still working.
Keep up the full-court press by managing your benefits, if you already receive them.
Get immediate proof of your current Social Security benefits or a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax purposes.
While everyone focuses on college basketball, create your own March Madness with Social Security. You can open your online my Social Security account during one of the commercial breaks.
Don’t wait until crunch time. Your moment is now. Take advantage of your own personal My Social Security account to stay on top of your annual earnings history and future benefit estimates. Staying ahead of the game is key to having a winning future in retirement. Social Security is a dependable team player, assisting you to your retirement championship, and My Social Security is the Most Valuable Player on the court.
Check out your final four at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.
Elizabeth Newport is a Social Security public affairs specialist based in Portland.
