Social Security

Why don’t I receive a Social Security statement every year?

In the effort to reduce costs, the Social Security Administration now mails Social Security statements to contributors every five years. However, your statement is also available online. Go to socialsecurity.gov to create a secure user account and view your statement today.

• Go to socialsecurity.gov
• Click on my Social Security
• Click on Create an Account on the following two screens
• Read and agree to the Terms of Service
• Verify your identity by providing personal information such as name and Social Security number
• Secure your identity by answering personal questions only you would know
• Create your account by creating a username and password
• Congratulations! You now have an account
• To sign in for the first time, agree to the Terms of Service again

Calculating Retirement Benefits

What is my full retirement age?

Full retirement age is the age at which you can begin to collect full Social Security retirement benefits without any reductions. This age is determined by the year you were born.

Can I start taking my Social Security retirement benefits before I reach my full retirement age?

Yes, you can receive Social Security retirement benefits as early as age 62.

• If you begin to receive benefits before you reach full retirement age, your benefits will be permanently reduced. The amount of the reduction depends on the age when you begin receiving benefits and your full retirement age.
• The amount you receive when you first begin taking benefits sets the base for the retirement benefits you will receive for the rest of your life. You will also receive any annual cost-of-living adjustments, and depending on your work history, you may receive higher benefits if you continue to work.

Early Social Security Benefits (assuming a full retirement age of 66 and a $24,000 annual benefit)

Early Social Security Benefits (assuming a full retirement age of 67 and a $24,000 annual benefit)