Dear Editor:
If you’re like most people, you’ve made a few resolutions for the New Year. You might plan to get a little more exercise, tackle a remodeling project you’ve been putting off or start writing that book that you just know will be a bestseller. It’s a tradition, and just human nature, to begin a new year with a new set of goals and a fresh “to do” list.
I’ve got a pretty good hunch that none of your resolutions has anything to do with Social Security! But by adding just four easy-to-achieve Social Security goals to your list, your body won’t get thinner and your home won’t look nicer, but your financial health should improve. So here are some suggested additions to your 2003 list of resolutions.
Social Security resolution #1: Compare your Social Security card with your payroll statement or W-2 form. Make sure the name shown on the card exactly matches the name your employer issuing to report your earnings to Social Security and other government agencies. If they don’t match, you might not be getting credit for your earnings in Social Security’s files. Proper matches are critical because your future Social Security benefits are based entirely on the earning we have listed in our records. And you’ll get shortchanged if there’s a problem. If there is a mismatch, it’s easy to fix. If your employer’s records are wrong, let them know right away and make sure they start using the correct name. If your Social Security card is wrong, call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) and we’ll help you change the name in our records and get a new card. We’ll also tell you how to update your Social Security earnings record.
Social Security resolution #2: When you’re done comparing your Social Security card to your payroll records, don’t put it back in your wallet or purse. Unless you’re on your way to a job interview, there’s no need to carry your card with you. If you lose your wallet or purse, a stolen Social Security card can lead to all the problems associated with identity theft. That means someone could ruin your credit history and cause other legal problems.
Social Security #3: Read you Social Security Statement when you get it this year. About three months before your birthday every year until you retire, we mail you this valuable financial planning tool. But we’ve learned that many people, especially people in their 20s and 30s, throw it away. So this year, check it out. It gives projections of potential retirement benefits, but it also tells you what you’d get now if you become disabled. And it tells you about the Social Security benefits your family would get each month if you died this year. The Statement also lists all the earnings posted to our records. So it’s a good way to make sure you are getting credit for all the taxes you’ve been paying.
Social Security resolution #4: If 2003 is the year you become eligible for Social Security think “online.” Using our website, www.socialsecurity.gov, is not only the fastest and easiest way to sign up for Social Security benefits, but it’s also the best way to get answers to questions, download forms or just learn more about Social Security.
Yvonne Bryant
Social Security manager
Jersey City