April has arrived, and spring is here! As we say “goodbye” to winter weather and “hello” to gardens budding with vibrant color, we welcome the season by celebrating Stress Awareness Month.
Did you know that stress, also called the “silent killer,” could cause heart disease and high blood pressure? Recognizing the sources of stress is the best way to understand how you can start eliminating factors in your life that put unnecessary strain on your body and mind.
Social Security wants to make your retirement planning as stress-free as possible, which is why we have a number of online tools available. You can create your own secure, personal my Social Security account from the comfort of your living room and avoid unpleasant traffic and a possible long wait in one of our field offices. Once you have a my Social Security account, you can view your Social Security Statement, verify your earnings record, and find out what to expect in monthly benefits if you retire at ages 62, 67, or 70. Once you begin receiving Social Security benefits, you can use my Social Security to check benefit information, change address and phone number, change an electronic payment method, and obtain an instant benefit verification letter and replacement SSA-1099/1042S.
You can easily sign up for my Social Security at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. If you’re thinking about retiring at an age not shown on your statement, reduce the stress of the unknown by using our Retirement Estimator. The Retirement Estimator calculates potential future Social Security benefits by changing variables such as retirement dates and future earnings. You may discover that you would rather wait another year or two before you retire to earn a higher benefit. Or, you might see that this is the time for you to kiss that work stress goodbye and retire right now. To get instant, personalized estimates of future benefits, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/estimator.
When you decide it’s time to start receiving retirement benefits, the application process is far less stressful now that you’re prepared. You can securely apply online without picking up the phone or leaving your house. Simply go to www.socialsecurity.gov/applyonline, and, in as little as 15 minutes, you can breeze through our online retirement application.
Our online tools are always available. You can enjoy Social Security’s stress-free retirement planning tools any time of the year, giving you more time to enjoy these warmer months. Doesn’t that put a spring in your step?