FEATURE — Social Security programs touch the lives of more than 70 million people. This arm of the federal government works to ensure critical benefits and other services are accessible.

According to the Social Security Administration’s monthly newsletter, consider the start of the new year as an opportunity to engage with Social Security online.

This begins by creating a free and secure personal online my Social Security account. Click here to set up your account. Once you create an account, you can:

• Apply for retirement, spouses, or disability benefits.
• Apply for Medicare.
• Check your application status.
• Request a replacement Social Security number card.

If you do not receive Social Security benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Get personalized retirement benefit estimates.
• Get your Social Security statement.
• Get estimates for spouse’s benefits.
• Get instant proof that you do not receive benefits.

If you receive benefits, you can use your personal my Social Security account to:

• Change your address (Social Security benefits only).
• Set up or change your direct deposit information (Social Security benefits only).
• Instantly get proof of benefits.
• Print your SSA-1099.

Your personal my Social Security account has a secure Message Center. You can choose to receive the annual cost-of-living adjustments and the income-related monthly adjustment amount online. Unless you opt-out of receiving notices by mail that are available online, you will receive both mailed and online notices.

Your personal my Social Security account offers easy access to features that save you time when you do business with us online. Click here to check out other online resources.

Medicare Part B enrollment info

If you did not apply for Medicare Part B (medical insurance) within three months before or after turning age 65, you have another chance each year during the General Enrollment Period. The period runs from Jan. 1-March 31 every year.

If you don’t enroll in Part B when you’re first eligible for it, you may have to pay a late enrollment penalty for as long as you have Part B coverage. Your monthly premium will increase 10% for each 12-month period that you were eligible for Part B but did not sign up for it. Your coverage starts the first day of the month after you sign up.

To learn more about Medicare, visit the Medicare Benefits page or click here to access the publication.

Gender self-selection procedure

Effective October 2022, you can self-select your gender on your Social Security number record.

“The Social Security Administration’s Equity Action Plan includes a commitment to decrease administrative burdens and ensure people who identify as gender diverse or transgender have options in the Social Security Number card application process,” said Acting Commissioner of Social Security, Kilolo Kijakazi. “This new policy allows people to self-select their sex in our records without needing to provide documentation of their sex designation.”

Individuals will need to apply for a replacement SSN card to update the sex marker in the administration’s records. You still need to show a current document to prove your identity, but you no longer need to provide medical or legal documentation of your sex designation.

The administration will accept a self-identified sex designation of either male or female, even if it is different from the sex designation shown on identity documents. Identity documents include a passport, state-issued driver’s license and an identity card.

SSN cards do not include sex markers. The current record systems are unable to include a non-binary or unspecified sex designation. The administration is exploring possible future policy and systems updates to support an “X” sex designation for the SSN card application process.