Dear Editor:
In most parts of the country, when you think of August, you think of one word, hot! Hot temperatures, hot barbecue grills in the back yard and sizzling summer fashions at the beach.
If Social Security doesn’t leap to mind when you think of things that are hot, here are some good things we’ve got cooking at Social Security.
Our website — Social Security’s website is one of the hottest online services in all of government. Every day, more than 100,000 people visit or site to do everything from looking for answers to commonly asked questions to filing for Social Security benefits to researching historical or statistical information for a variety of projects and purposes. Check it out yourself at www.socialsecurity.gov.
Our electronic newsletter — In the world of electronic newsletters, you can’t get much hotter than “eNews” from Social Security. In fact, with more than 250,000 subscribers, it is the third most popular online subscription newsletter in the world! Each monthly issue is packed with the latest news from Social Security and with helpful tidbits of information to help you better understand Social Security’s programs and benefits. To subscribe just go to www.socialsecurity.gov/enews.
Our online process to file for benefits — Thousands of people file for Social Security benefits every day. For more than 60 years, most people have been doing that by paying a visit to their local Social Security office or in more recent years, by calling our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213, to file a claim over the phone. But the latest and hottest way to file for Social Security benefits is online. It’s convenient and simple and safe. Just go to www.socialsecurity.gov and click on either “Apply for retirement benefits online” or “Apply for disability benefits online.”
Our benefit calculators — One of the hottest services we’ve ever provided is the Social Security Statement. You probably get one every year, and it gives you estimates of your future Social Security benefits. But that estimate assumes two things: it assumes you’re going to keep working until you’re at least 62 years old; and it assumes you’re going to keep making about the same amount of money you’re currently making (with a small inflation adjustment factor). If either of those assumptions is different for you, then that’s where our hot new service, online benefit calculators, comes in. You can use them to get different benefit estimates using different earnings scenarios or different retirement dates. You’ll find the calculators at www.socialsecurity.gov/planners/calculators.htm.
You may have noticed a trend. Everything I’ve discussed that’s “hot” at Social Security involves an online service. Although it’s true that the online world is here to stay, I don’t want to imply that good old-fashioned face-to-face service is a relic of the bygone days. Those of us at the Jersey City Social Security office are here to serve you in person if that’s your preference. If you’re just not comfortable doing business with us online, you’re more than welcome to take care of your Social Security business in person. Try calling our staff at our toll-free service first: 1-800-772-1213. If they can’t help you over the phone, you can make an appointment to visit our office at 3000 Kennedy Blvd, Jersey City, NJ.
Yvonne Bryant
Social Security Manager, Jersey City