Paper Social Security Statements Are Back

Have you missed the paper Social Security benefits statements you used to receive annually in the mail? You’ll be happy to know that the Social Security Administration plans to resume mailing the benefits statements in September.

But not everyone will receive the paper statements, which estimate future Social Security earnings.

The mailed statements fell victim to budget cuts in 2011.

Reuters said the paper statements will be mailed to workers at ages 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, 55, 60 and older. If you’ve signed up to view your benefits statements online, you will not get the mailed statement.

AARP said the mailed earnings statements are important for many Americans, because so few people – about 11 million – have signed up to read them online.

“Social Security is and will continue to be the foundation to a secure retirement,” said Gary Koenig, director of economic security at the AARP Public Policy Institute. “It is important that people have a basic understanding of what their benefits may be when planning for their future.”

The Social Security Administration decided to reinstate mailed statements after receiving “pressure from the paper industry and advocacy groups for the elderly and other Americans who do not have regular access to the Internet,” The Washington Post said.

John Runyan, executive director of Consumers for Paper Options, said in a statement, “Millions of Americans, including the 25 percent without Internet access, have no way to verify the accuracy of their Social Security benefits, or even plan for retirement without the mailed Social Security earnings statements.”

Do you prefer to view your Social Security earnings statements on paper or online? Share your comments below or on our Facebook page.

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