Social Security Statement

[myrdale]

I use to receive a statement from social security once a year, and then I didn't. And I really have not thought much else about it.

This morning it crossed my mind, and a quick search returned that the government discontinued this annual report in 2011. I need pull my last one out of the filing cabinet but it doesn't seem like it's been 10 years.

From what I gather the statement is now only available if you sign up online. When I went to the website, I saw a stipulation, that once you sign up for an online account you will no longer receive a paper report.

Does anyone still receive a paper report?

Has anyone signed up online?

I know it's my paranoia, but do I really want my email registered with the government? Plus if email is a official means of communication it leaves the opportunity for something important to land in the spam folder unseen.

[Like2Plan]

DH and I both signed up for a SS account online long before DH was even eligible for SS benefits. Mainly, it was to prevent someone else the ability to sign up for our SS accounts through identity theft (I mean, how would you even know? You don't typically sign up until you are retirement age...)
And, they have 2 factor sign in procedures. The web site is pretty basic, IMHO, but I guess it gets the job done.

You can print out your earnings report from your account on line. When DH claimed SS, he was able to status the progress from his online account.

[Joan.of.the.Arch]

Years ago I made an email account with SS. The only email I get is an annual reminder to review the account. You can log on any time you like to review it regardless of email reminders.

I previously had the odd problem that SS only twice sent me a paper summary. I'd have to call to ask that it be sent.

[myrdale]

Mainly, it was to prevent someone else the ability to sign up for our SS accounts through identity theft.

This is a good point.

I did go ahead and sign up. The current statement is immediately available. There is an option to continue to receive paper statements in addition to emails. I selected that option.

Ultimately it looks simple and easy enough, but I am still paranoid over having my email and cell phone now listed in another government database.

[Petunia 100]

This is a good point.

I did go ahead and sign up. The current statement is immediately available. There is an option to continue to receive paper statements in addition to emails. I selected that option.

Ultimately it looks simple and easy enough, but I am still paranoid over having my email and cell phone now listed in another government database.

Why? What risk do you see? They already have more important information than that for you.

[myrdale]

Why? What risk do you see? They already have more important information than that for you.

Governmental tracking. Warrantless searches. And not that they can't get this information on their own, being that through PRISM the NSA collected tracking information of all of Verizon's customers. Why provide the government one tittle more than is required.

Like I said, my own paranoia.

[Petunia 100]

Governmental tracking. Warrantless searches. And not that they can't get this information on their own, being that through PRISM the NSA collected tracking information of all of Verizon's customers. Why provide the government one tittle more than is required.

Like I said, my own paranoia.

Thanks for answering.

[GrimJack]

I actually applied for and started receiving SS online. It is also fun to see the list of my annual total income for each year (The 1970s were my hippy years and had a few 0 dollar years). I am retired now; but I started receiving SS when I turned 66 so I began upping my TSP (401k equivalent) contribution until I was contributing as much as I was receiving from SS + what I had been contributing before.