What you'll find on the Social Security Administration's main website

The Social Security Administration (SSA) runs ssa.gov, the official government website where you can look up information about Social Security benefits, create an account to view your earnings record, and find local office contact details. The site is organized by benefit type — retirement, disability, survivor benefits, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) — so you can navigate directly to the section that matches your situation rather than searching through general information.

The homepage leads you to three main entry points: "Benefits" (which breaks down by type), "Retirement Planner" (a tool that estimates your future benefits based on your work history), and "My Social Security" (the account portal where you can see your actual earnings record and benefit statements). Most readers land on ssa.gov looking for one of these three things, and the site design puts each within two or three clicks.

The site also hosts the complete text of Social Security rules, explanations of how benefits are calculated, and answers to the most common questions about each program. Unlike third-party sites that summarize or interpret the rules, ssa.gov gives you the official language directly — which matters when you need to understand exactly how a rule applies to your situation.

Key Takeaways

  • ssa.gov is the official Social Security Administration website and the only place to create a My Social Security account to view your actual earnings record and benefit statements.
  • The site separates information by benefit type (retirement, disability, survivor, SSI) so you can find rules and explanations that match your specific situation.
  • The Retirement Planner tool estimates your future benefits based on your work history, but you need a My Social Security account to see your actual projected amount.
  • Local Social Security office phone numbers and hours are listed on ssa.gov, and you can schedule in-person appointments through the site rather than calling.
  • The site contains the full text of Social Security rules and policy explanations, not summaries, so you can read the official language that governs your benefits.

Creating and using a My Social Security account

A My Social Security account is a free login you create on ssa.gov that lets you see your earnings record, view your benefit statement, and change your address or phone number without calling or visiting an office. You set it up by going to ssa.gov, clicking "Create an account," and providing your Social Security number, date of birth, and email address. The site then asks you to verify your identity by answering questions about your credit history or by uploading a photo ID and a recent document with your name and address on it.

Once your account is active, you can log in anytime to see your earnings history — the record of how much you earned each year and how much you paid in Social Security taxes. This matters because your benefit amount is calculated from your 35 highest-earning years. If you spot an error (a year where you earned money but it did not show up, or a year where the amount is wrong), you can report it through your account or call the SSA directly. Correcting errors early matters because the SSA has a limited window to fix them.

Your benefit statement, also called your Social Security Statement, shows your estimated retirement benefit at full retirement age, your estimated disability benefit, and your family's estimated survivor benefits. The statement updates once a year, usually in the month of your birthday. You can read it as a PDF and share it with a financial advisor or use it to plan for retirement.

Finding information by benefit type

The SSA website organizes its content by the type of benefit you are interested in. Under the "Benefits" section, you will find separate pages for retirement benefits (which you can claim as early as age 62), disability benefits (available if you have a medical condition that prevents you from working), survivor benefits (which your family may receive if you die), and Supplemental Security Income (a needs-based program for people with low income and limited resources).

Each benefit type page explains who is covered, how the benefit is calculated, how much you might receive, and what happens if you claim early or delay. For example, the retirement benefits page explains that claiming at 62 gives you a smaller monthly amount than waiting until your full retirement age, and waiting until 70 gives you an even larger amount. The disability page explains what "unable to work" means under Social Security rules, which is stricter than many people think.

If you are unsure which benefit type applies to you, the site includes a "Benefits may be able to access Screening Tool" that asks you a series of yes-or-no questions and tells you which programs you might be able to look into. This tool does not make a information — it straightforward points you toward the right section of the website based on your answers.

Using the Retirement Planner tool

The Retirement Planner is an interactive tool on ssa.gov that estimates your future Social Security benefit based on your work history and the age at which you claim. You do not need a My Social Security account to use it, but the estimates are more accurate if you log in, because the tool can then use your actual earnings record instead of asking you to estimate.

The tool walks you through a series of questions: your current age, the age at which you plan to retire, your expected future earnings, and whether you are married or have dependents. It then shows you an estimated monthly benefit amount and explains how that amount would change if you claimed earlier or later. The estimates are based on current law and your work history as of the date you run the tool, so if your earnings change significantly in the next few years, you should run it again.

The Retirement Planner is useful for rough planning — deciding whether to claim at 62 or wait until 70, or understanding how much of your retirement income will come from Social Security versus savings. It is not a substitute for a detailed financial plan, but it gives you a starting point based on your actual Social Security record.

Finding your local Social Security office and scheduling appointments

Every city and many towns have a local Social Security office where you can speak to someone in person about your benefits, report a change in your situation, or replace a lost Social Security card. The SSA website has a "Find a Local Office" tool where you enter your zip code and see the addresses, phone numbers, and hours of all nearby offices. You can also see which services each office offers (some smaller offices handle only certain types of requests).

You can schedule an in-person appointment through ssa.gov rather than calling. Go to the office locator, select your office, and click "Schedule an appointment." The site shows you available dates and times, and you can book a slot without waiting on hold. If you prefer to call, the phone number for your local office is listed on the same page. Wait times for phone calls vary by location and time of day, but calling early in the morning or mid-week is usually faster than calling in the afternoon or on Fridays.

If you cannot visit an office or prefer not to, you can handle many requests by phone or through your My Social Security account. The website tells you which services are available online, by phone, or in person only, so you know before you call or visit.

Navigating Social Security rules and policy documents

The SSA website includes the full text of Social Security rules, organized by topic. These are the actual regulations that govern how benefits are calculated, who is covered, and how the program works. They are written in legal language, but they are the authoritative source — if you read something about Social Security on another website and want to verify it, you can find the official rule on ssa.gov.

The "Policy" section of the site includes the Social Security Handbook (a informational guide to the rules), the Program Operations Manual System (POMS, which is how SSA staff interpret the rules), and specific policy documents on topics like work incentives for people receiving disability benefits, how marriage affects your benefits, and what happens if you move overseas. These documents are long and technical, but they are the source material that everything else is based on.

For most readers, the plain-language fact sheets and FAQs on ssa.gov are more useful than the full policy documents. But if you need to know exactly how a rule works — for example, how much you can earn while receiving disability benefits without losing your benefits — the policy section has the answer.

Common reasons the website may not answer your question

The SSA website covers the main rules and common situations, but it cannot address every individual circumstance. If your situation is unusual — for example, you worked overseas, you are not a U.S. citizen, you have a criminal record, or you are involved in a custody dispute over a child's benefits — the website may not have a page that directly answers your question. In those cases, you will need to call your local office or speak to someone in person.

The website also does not process requests or make decisions. If you need to report a change in your situation (you got married, you moved, your income changed), you can do some of these things through your My Social Security account, but others require a phone call or an office visit. The website will tell you which route to take for your specific request.

If you are looking for information about a benefit decision you received — why you were denied, why your benefit amount is what it is, or how to appeal a decision — you will find general information on ssa.gov, but your specific case details are only available by calling or visiting your local office. Bring your decision letter with you so the staff member can look up your file.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ssa.gov the only official Social Security website?

Yes. The SSA does not have multiple official websites. If you see a website claiming to help you with Social Security benefits but it is not ssa.gov, it is a third-party site, which may charge a fee or collect your personal information. Always go directly to ssa.gov for official information and to create your account.

Can I claim benefits directly through the website?

You can start the process for some benefits through ssa.gov, but you cannot complete the entire claim online. For retirement and survivor benefits, you can file online and then speak to someone by phone to finish. For disability benefits, you must file in person or by phone. The website tells you which route applies to your benefit type.

What if I forgot my My Social Security password?

Click "Forgot your password?" on the login page, and the site will send you a reset link to your email address. If you do not have access to the email you used to create your account, you can call the SSA or visit your local office to verify your identity and regain access.

Does the Retirement Planner account for taxes on my benefits?

No. The Retirement Planner shows your gross benefit amount, not what you will actually receive after taxes. Some people have to pay income tax on their Social Security benefits depending on their total income. The website has a separate tool and explanation for how this works, but the Retirement Planner does not factor it in.

Can I view my earnings record if I do not have a My Social Security account?

No. You must create and log into a My Social Security account to see your actual earnings record. If you do not want to create an account, you can call your local office or visit in person and ask them to print a copy for you, though this takes longer.