Social Security recently released a new tool on its website in an effort to prepare people who are considering applying for retirement benefits.
This is Social Security’s first step at improving online services and has plans to offer more ways people can access services online considering Social Security offices mostly remain closed for the foreseeable future due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Below is a description of the new retirement portal from Social Security.
The redesigned portal will make it easier for people to find and read about Social Security retirement benefits, with fewer pages and condensed, rewritten, and clearer information. The portal also is optimized for mobile devices so people can learn and do what they want from wherever they want, and the portal now includes the ability to subscribe to receive retirement information and updates.
In a press release from the agency, Social Security Commissioner Andrew Saul said the retirement portal is a step in the right direction of making more services accessible to customers via online services.
“We are working hard to continue improving our website to provide people with clear, helpful information and easy access to our online services,” Saul said. “Our new retirement portal is more user-friendly and easier to navigate, whether someone is ready to learn about, apply for, or manage their retirement benefits.”
A number of topics are addressed on the retirement portal, which can be found here. Customers can learn about how retirement benefits are calculated and planning tools. The online portal also will allow customers to apply for retirement benefits right online and to provide Social Security any information they may need to be aware of regarding a person’s benefits.
Social Security has not yet identified what other advanced services it may begin offering online, but said there will be additions later this year.
