What Social Security Services Are Available Online?

Key takeaways

• Access Social Security services online anytime using your My Social Security account.
• Apply for retirement, spousal benefits, disability insurance or Medicare from home.
• Update personal details, direct deposit, and track application or appeal statuses easily.
• Review earnings history and estimate future payments to guide retirement planning.

Summary

Social Security services online make managing benefits simpler and more convenient. By creating a My Social Security account at ssa.gov, you can access key tools and information anytime. From applying for retirement, spousal disability or Medicare benefits to updating your address or direct deposit, many essential tasks can now be completed digitally.

Beyond applications, online access helps you track claim statuses, review your earnings history and estimate future payments, which supports informed retirement planning. While most services are available online, applying for survivor benefits still requires a phone call or in-person visit, making it important to know when additional steps are needed.

The key takeaways and summary were created with the assistance of generative AI. An AARP editor reviewed and refined the content for accuracy and clarity.

Full transcript

[0:00:00] Hi, I’m Mary Liz Burns, and in my work with AARP,[0:00:04] I try to simplify the more complex aspects of Social Security.

[0:00:08] I’ve heard from so many people that they dread the thought of

[0:00:10] waiting on hold or in line at the Social Security office.

[0:00:14] Well, one of the great things today about managing your Social Security benefits

[0:00:19] is that you can do pretty much everything on your computer or smartphone.

[0:00:23] Let’s take a look at what Social Security services are available online.

[0:00:29] There’s a lot, and that’s a good thing.

[0:00:31] The Social Security Administration is constantly expanding their online

[0:00:35] offerings to help you access services and get the benefit information

[0:00:39] you need when you need it.

[0:00:41] To get the most value online,

[0:00:43] go to ssa.gov and create a My Social Security account

[0:00:47] if you haven’t already.

[0:00:48] There is a how-to article linked in the description below

[0:00:52] if you want to check it out. Let’s take a look at what’s available online.

[0:00:56] For starters, you could apply for retirement benefits,

[0:00:59] spousal benefits or Social Security Disability Insurance.

[0:01:03] You can also apply for Medicare, and you can do things like update

[0:01:07] your address, set up or change your direct deposit information,

[0:01:11] and in most states, you could apply online for a replacement Social Security card.

[0:01:15] You can also check the status of things you might have in progress,

[0:01:19] like an appeal of a denied disability claim.

[0:01:22] Setting up a My Social Security account isn’t just about tracking your benefits.

[0:01:27] You can also check your lifetime earnings history

[0:01:28] and get estimates of your future payments.

[0:01:32] Having that information is crucial as you plan for retirement.

[0:01:35] It’s all right here at your fingertips, 24/7.

[0:01:39] For all the things you can do online,

[0:01:41] there’s one big thing you can’t do, and that’s applying for survivor benefits.

[0:01:46] For this, you’ll need to call Social Security

[0:01:49] or go to your local Social Security office and apply in person.

[0:01:53] We have a video that provides the steps you should take to apply for survivor

[0:01:57] benefits. Check it out in the link below.

[0:01:59] As you navigate the important benefits that Social Security provides,

[0:02:03] I hope these tips help you on your journey.

[0:02:06] For more tips and information, go to aarp.org/socialsecurity

[0:02:13] Please take a moment to subscribe to our YouTube channel

[0:02:16] so you won’t miss out on future videos like this from AARP.