My Social Security Account

 Today I wanted to remind you of the importance of setting up a “My Social Security Account” if you haven't done so already, by going to ssa.gov. There’s many reasons to get signed up. Once you set up your account a hacker can’t try to set up an account in your name. Having an account allows you to see an estimate of your future benefits, which can help you determine the best strategies for claiming. You can start claiming your benefit at 62 but the longer you wait the more money you’ll get. FRA stands for “Full Retirement Age” which for most is 66 or 67. And you can get 8% more a year by waiting to take your benefits up to age 70. When to claim depends on other sources of income in retirement as well as life expectancy and health but having an idea of what to expect can help create a solid financial plan for the future. Another benefit: You can confirm your wage history and ensure the information the government has is accurate. Creating an account is simple. Individuals must be at least 18 years old, have a Social Security number and a valid U.S. address as well as an email address. After going to www.ssa.gov/myaccount and creating an account, the SSA will verify the person’s identification, send a security code and determine the best measure of communication, such as email or text. If you have questions or need help with this call 320-679-5183.