Documents You Need When You Retire | Transamerica Retirement Management

Documents You Need When Filing for Social Security

Making Sense of Your
Retirement Statements

"Your Social Security Statement" is a great personal tool that Social Security sends out to all working Americans, beginning at age 25. It is mailed out annually, approximately three to four months prior to your birthday. A sample of this statement can be found below, using "Wanda Worker" for illustrative purposes. You'll note that it includes an individual history of yearly earnings, as well as a personalized statement of estimated benefits. Visit www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement for more information and to view a sample Social Security Statement.

Your date and place of birth and Social Security number
If you want the benefits electronically deposited you will need your bank or other financial institution's Routing Transit Number and the account number
The amount of money earned last year and this year. If you are filing for benefits in the months of September through December, you will also need to estimate next year's earnings
The name and address of your employer(s) for this year and last year
The beginning and ending dates of any active U.S. military service you had before 1968
The name, Social Security number and date of birth or age of your current spouse and any former spouse. You should also know the dates and places of marriage and dates of divorce or death (if appropriate)
A copy of your Social Security statement