Every year we receive one of these personal social security statements. We're not sure when they started arriving in our mail box but we remember being quite perplexed and unsure (to hang onto or toss)? Last year, we finally picked up the phone and called the Social Security Office and asked them--what is this personal statement (should we shred or not)? Answers after the jump.
Organizing Paperwork: Shred Each Year
Your Social Security Statement
The individual we spoke with over the phone said the Personal Social Security Statement you receive in the mail is for your records only. Each year, you receive a new copy with updated information and the previous year's statement can be shredded. First, you'll want to check your own records against your current Social Security Statement. If you spot a mistake, you'll want to let the records office know. For a complete record retention guide for the remainder of your paperwork, check out Gregory's post on what to keep and what to toss.
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pay close attention to how the SSA calculates your benefits. if you don't work much between the ages of 60 and 67 (or, soon, 72), your benefit will go down dramatically. better plan on private wealth, or keep that income really high, or the benefits just aren't there. you are what you earn.
view avianmission's profile
"you are what you earn . . . ."
So sad. I have on occasion become quite depressed at the thought of retirement. I am afraid I will never be able to save enough and SS won't be enough to fill the gap.
view taritac's profile
I like the general concept of shredding stuff. We went paperless last year and it is the best decision we ever made. Most of our records are on the computer (and backed up). No more filing cabinets. Yay!
Great tips - thanks for posting the information.
view RowdyKittens's profile
they're usually mailed out in march but i think this year they will only be available online.
view miaedu's profile
How timely...I just got one in the mail today!
view nankie's profile
taritac--so sorry, i didn't mean that the way it sounded. the Soc. Sec. Admin. thinks you are what you earn. the math may be in your favour, despite what you think now. just wanted to say it's good to check their calculations.
view avianmission's profile
They aren't mailed in March, as someone stated,... they are mailed i think 2-3 months before your birthday, from age 25 on. ;)
I work for SSA, and there really isn't a need to keep them. Just verify that you agree with the earnings on the statement, as they are reported to the SSA directly from IRS. The point of those statements is to show people that we cannot expect to live only off our SSA benefits when we retire, and that it is only a supplemental benefit. so hopefully people are saving on their own.
sorry, that's my schpeel. and what a weird post for AT, by the way...
view Bobbycat5's profile
It is kind of strange, but if you think about the "DNA" of Apartment Therapy, it's actually not JUST about what furniture looks good in a small space, but it's also about things like clearing clutter, and organizing and managing what's left in a way that's useful and attractive, and I think it's actually a pretty timely post.
view Curtis's profile