Here are five critical things you should know about Social Security. Getting them under your belt will help you not leave valuable retirement income on the table.
No. 1: Set up a My Social Security account
First things first. If you haven't already done so, head over to the Social Security Administration (SSA) website and set up a my Social Security account. Doing so will let you access a good estimate of how much income you can expect to receive from Social Security, based on your earnings history, so far. You'll also be able to see the SSA's record of your earnings for your entire working life.
That's handy, because if there are any errors in it, you may end up with smaller benefit checks than you have actually earned. With a my Social Security account, you can correct errors, request a replacement Social Security card (if you meet certain criteria), and take care of other Social Security business. Better still, setting up an account can also prevent identity theft and headaches -- as some scammers out there have been setting up accounts in the names of people who haven't yet done so, aiming to collect their benefits.
