As regular readers know, many Social Security activities can be completed online.
Social Security has available online services whether you do not expect to be receiving Social Security anytime soon, are completing an application to begin SSA benefits, or are already receiving monthly benefits. Online services are available for specific groups, including employers for W-2 wage reporting and verification of employee Social Security numbers.
From the start of Fiscal Year 2014 in October 2013 through April 2014, here are examples of public online use for Social Security activities:
Through my Social Security, with services for people both receiving or not yet receiving benefits:
14,898,898 views of personal Social Security Statements for estimates and to see earnings records
664,649 changes to a current beneficiary mailing address or of direct deposit bank information (electronic fund transfer)
Applications:
Just over 50 percent of retirement and disability applications are now received online.
760,095 Retirement applications
760,825 Disability applications
391,534 Medicare only applications, for people age 65 but not starting SSA retirement
Other online actions:
145,990 requests to replace a Medicare card
128,589 requests to replace Form 1099 for filing taxes (largely during February – March)
Online services are available for you through the Social Security website, www.socialsecurity.gov, anytime at your convenience without calling or visiting an SSA office but those options are available if preferred.
The national SSA toll-free number is 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Both numbers have representatives Monday – Friday, excluding holidays, between 7:00am – 7:00pm, local time. Automated services are available 24 hours a day at 1-800-772-1213. Appointments can be made for your local office by calling the national numbers.
Local office public hours are usually Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday from 9:00am – 3:00pm with Wednesday hours of 9:00am – noon. Small offices can have different public hours. Learn local office addresses and public hours here.
Did you know? The original Social Security website was launched in May 1994, just over 20 years ago. That first site received about 17,000 visits in its first month. Now, in 2014, the SSA website averages more than 17 million visits monthly, contains roughly 45,000 pages of information including retirement planning tools and provides online services. Visit it at www.socialsecurity.gov.
