Social Security Benefit Statements No Longer Mailed

Since 1999, American workers have automatically received an annual Social Security projected benefit statement in the mail. In an effort to save money, these statements will no longer be mailed, at least for the period from April through September 2011. The Social Security Administration predicts that in October it will resume mailing annual statements, but only to those who are age 60 or older and not receiving benefits.

Individuals can still access their benefit statement online. You can get a personalized estimate of your future retirement benefits at www.ssa.gov/estimator, but it won’t contain as much detail as the physical document you have been receiving.

The agency estimates that it will save $30 million by suspending mailing for the remainder of the government’s fiscal year.