Where's My Annual Statement?

Q. Earlier this year, Social Security said that to save money it would stop sending out those annual statements that tell us how much we can expect to receive when we retire. Are they ever going to bring back those statements?

A. Social Security plans to resume sending them out soon — but only to people 60 and older. In the meantime, people younger than 60 may be able to get an estimate of their benefits by using the Web-based Retirement Estimator.

You can also get an estimate and advice on the best age at which to claim by going to the AARP Social Security Benefits Calculator.

Also of interest: Top 25 Social Security questions. >>

Stan Hinden, a former columnist for the Washington Post, wrote How to Retire Happy: The 12 Most Important Decisions You Must Make Before You Retire. Have a question for the Social Security Mailbox? Check out the archive. If you don't find your answer there, send a query.