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YOUR SOCIAL SECURITY | Rock Island, Illinois Office

By Cristina Vital
Social Security Manager
Rock Island Social Security Office

ON THE GO?  YOU CAN STILL USE SOCIAL SECURITY ONLINE WHEN TRAVELING

Social Security is here for you when you travel, whether you’re in the United States or in another country. Our online services page at www.ssa.gov/onlineservices provides you with a wide variety of self-service options you can use on your mobile phone, tablet, or computer.

Through our online services, you can:

• Find out if you qualify for benefits.
• Apply for Social Security retirement, disability, and Medicare benefits.
• Get your Social Security Statement.
• Request a replacement Social Security card.
• Appeal a decision.

Do you receive Social Security benefits or Medicare?  If so, you can create or log in to your personal my Social Security account to:

• Get your benefit verification letter.
• Check your information and benefit amount.
• Change your address and telephone number.
• Start or change your direct deposit.
• Get a replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S for tax season.
• Report your wages if you work and receive disability benefits or SSI.

Create a personal my Social Security account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount to take advantage of these easy-to-use features.  Also, please share our online services page with family and friends who need this important information.

SOCIAL SECURITY HONORS OUR MILITARY HEROES

On Memorial Day, our nation honors military service members who have given their lives for our country.  Families, friends, and communities pause to remember the many great sacrifices of our military and ensure their legacy lives on in the freedoms we all enjoy. We recognize these heroes who, in President Lincoln’s words, “gave the last full measure of devotion.”

The benefits we provide can help the families of deceased military service members.  For example, surviving spouses and their dependent children may be eligible for Social Security survivors benefits.  You can learn more about those benefits at www.ssa.gov/survivors.

We also offer support to our wounded warriors. Social Security benefits protect veterans when an injury prevents them from returning to active duty or performing other work.  Wounded military service members can receive expedited processing of their Social Security disability claims.  Are you a veteran with a 100% Permanent & Total compensation rating from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs?  We will expedite your disability claim.  Both the Department of Veteran Affairs and the Social Security Administration have disability programs.  You may qualify for disability benefits under one program but not the other, or you may qualify for both.  Depending on your situation, some of your family members, including your dependent children or spouse, may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits.

Want more information?  Visit www.ssa.gov/people/veterans for answers to commonly asked questions or to find information about the application process.

Thinking about retirement? Military service members can receive Social Security benefits in addition to their military retirement benefits.  For details, visit our webpage, You Can Get Both Military Retirement and Social Security Benefits, at www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/veterans.html.

Please share this information with the military families in your community. To the veterans who bravely served and died for our country, and to the military service members who serve today, we honor and thank you.

YOUR PERSONAL MY SOCIAL SECURITY ACCOUNT IS FOR EVERY STAGE IN YOUR CAREER

Your personal my Social Security account is here for you at every stage of your career. You don’t have to be retired or even close to retirement to take advantage of it. With an account, you can conduct much of your Social Security business online. For example, you can request a replacement Social Security card (in most states and the District of Columbia) whether you receive benefits or not.

If you are not currently receiving benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Review your earnings history.
• Estimate your future benefits to help plan for retirement.
• Get instant proof that you do not receive benefits.
• Check the status of your Social Security application, if you decide to apply for benefits.

If you already receive Social Security benefits, use your account to:

• Change your address.
• Get instant proof that you receive benefits.
• Set up or change your direct deposit.
• Get an instant copy of your Social Security 1099 (SSA-1099) or SSA-1042S.
• Opt out of receiving certain notices by mail and instead receive them in the secure Message Center.

Please encourage your family and friends to create their personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.