First Look at New Social Security Benefits Statement

On the second page is a table laying out your lifetime earnings that were subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes; an accounting of how much you’ve paid in those taxes; and bullet points on benefit calculations and eligibility, condensed from considerably wordier explanations that appeared in past versions of the statement.

Statements mostly moved online

The SSA introduced the statements in 1999 as a tool to help future beneficiaries incorporate anticipated Social Security income into their financial planning. They were initially mailed every year to workers ages 25 and over who were not yet receiving any form of benefit.

Starting in the early 2010s, the SSA began phasing out paper mailers and focused on providing beneficiary information and services online. Hard copies are now sent automatically only to workers age 60 and up who do not receive benefits and do not have My Social Security accounts, three months before their birthday each year. (You can request a paper version by mail at any age.)

If you are one of the more than 61 million people with a My Social Security account, you can view, save and print an up-to-date version of your statement at any time. You can also access SSA fact sheets on benefit basics, available in English or Spanish, and tailored for different age groups.

AARP has endorsed the federal Know Your Social Security Act, which would mandate a return to mass mailings of the statements.

“When Social Security sends this statement through the mail, more Americans are able to better plan for their future, not only due to an increased understanding of their Social Security benefits, but also any gaps in their current retirement plan,” Bill Sweeney, AARP’s senior vice president for government affairs, wrote in a June 23 letter to congressional leaders. “Paper statements are annual reminders, especially to younger workers, that they have contributed to Social Security and have earned a stake in the program."

Editor’s note: This article as originally published included incorrect information about when the SSA sends paper Social Security statements to some older workers. It has been updated with the correct information.

Andy Markowitz is a contributing writer and editor for AARP, covering Social Security and fraud. He is a former editor of The Prague Post and Baltimore City Paper.