This video explains how to access and understand your Social Security statement and why it matters throughout your working life, not just at retirement. It shows how to view your statement online by creating a secure account, recommends reviewing it at least once a year, and walks through key sections: verifying personal information, understanding Social Security’s retirement, disability, and survivor protections, and checking your annual earnings record for missing or incorrect income that could reduce benefits. It also covers work credits (typically 40, about 10 years of work) and how estimated monthly retirement benefits change depending on when you claim at 62, full retirement age (usually 66–67), or 70. The video encourages regular review to catch errors early and make better planning decisions.
