Community Manager

🤔 Anyone Else Concerned About Our FULL Social Security Numbers Are On Our MAILED Yearly Statement?

Forum|Forum|3 years ago
January 23, 2023
18 replies
14658 views

3 comments (1/22/23) I had never paid attention to the area our Social Security Numbers are printed on our YEARLY Social Security Retirement STATEMENT until last week when I received this year's copy in my MAILBOX.

I guess I was not paying attention since retiring July 2020.

I am signed up to get everything ONLINE, but for some reason they INSIST on mailing ONLY this to my apartment address.

I can see the ONLINE version, so why mail me a PRINT COPY?

Hmmm, suppose a dishonest postal worker opens the envelope which is obviously just 1 sheet and from the Social Security Administration.

Suppose our mail gets stolen or delivered to the wrong person.

I would have thought using the usual x's would protect us. Example, xxx-xx-1234.

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Thank you,

Nicole (Social Security Forum)

jonibee

Community Champion ⭐⭐

Oh Oh this is not a good thing in todays world..Hopefully something will be done about it ASAP especially the online version which seems to get hacked daily in different things...

S

sktn77a

Contributor ⭐⭐⭐

OP: Do you have a MySocialSecurity account? I haven't received a Social Security Statement in the mail since I signed up for MySocialSecurity.

SummerOnTheWay1

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

3 comments (Saturday 1/13/24)

Hi @sktn77a , yes I do. Have had one since retiring in 2020.

Gail @GailL1 , do you know WHY we are getting these MAILED to us and NOT other folks?

My 2023 copy STILL has my COMPLETE Social Security Number.

I was told by Retirement Social Security folks I had NO CHOSE with this. Would be nice to NOT have a copy MAILED each year.

I access other stuff "online"...

R

RobertH514774

Contributor ⭐⭐

I haven't received a paper copy in the mail since 2017 when I signed up online. You can set your communication preferences under 'My Profile'.

C

ChaviB814890restAuthor

Community Manager

(2/25/23) Senator Warner here in Virginia did receive a reply from Social Security. The yearly paper version is received by ALL Retirees receiving Social Security. Does NOT matter that we signed up for ONLY "online" communications. It is a TAX FORM "controlled" by IRS. Well, I am sure they have their "reasons" but not sure while I was still WORKING I was "allowed" to PRINT out my tax forms = avoid them being mailed to my home address. Lol, now to HOPE no one "steals" my Yearly Social Security Statement. Take care, Nicole 🙃

D

DonnaM857528

Contributor ⭐

Thank you for this post because I am very concerned as well. I have my communication preferences set on my Social Security website but they still send it in the mail. The Social Security number needs to be truncated like everyone is doing in today’s world because of identity theft. The USPS is continually miss delivering our mail. This is a real problem. Please if you are reading this, take action. I included contact info below.
I just sent an email to AARP to help us address this issue. The next step is to write to the SSA commissioner. There is a also a phone number to call the commissioners at the Office of Public Inquiry. phone number 410-965-2982

or send your concern and request to truncate the SSN on our 1099 statements via email to OPI.net.post@SSA.gov. I spoke to a representative at the office of public inquiry today and she states that she believes it’s a law that 1099’s have to be mailed and it would take an act of Congress to change the law. She suggested making sure you send this email as well as contacting your government representatives about this important issue.

Thank you!

SummerOnTheWay1

Community Champion ⭐⭐⭐

5 comments (Wednesday 1/10/24)

Hi Donna @DonnaM857528 , I am glad to find someone who also is concerned.

The sad part about all this, is the fact that alot of Retirees STILL have their payments MAILED to their HOME ADDRESS!!! 😱😱

Not me - DIRECT DEPOSIT to my bank and I have ALERTS set up to email and text me for ALL activity. Bottom line, it seems IDENTITY THEFT is not a priority for Social Security Division. 😤

fffred

Conversationalist ⭐⭐⭐

The sad part about all this, is the fact that alot of Retirees STILL have their payments MAILED to their HOME ADDRESS!!! 😱😱

Not me - DIRECT DEPOSIT to my bank and I have ALERTS set up to email and text me for ALL activity. Bottom line, it seems IDENTITY THEFT is not a priority for Social Security Division. 😤

I find the SSA to be very concerned with Identity Theft. This is shown with the newer log-in methods for "My Social Security" that require confirmation of identity (and ownership of the SSN).

My understanding from the SSA site is that all new applications for SS or SSI benefits require direct deposit of benefits. Those who already receive benefits may continue to be getting these by check but the SSA strong-arms recipients into changing to direct deposit (I believe I have even seen some complaints about that in this forum). Per this page at the SSA (https://www.ssa.gov/deposit/) "Federal law mandates that all Federal benefit payments – including Social Security and Supplemental Security Income benefits – must be made electronically" and continues to state "If you are applying for Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits, you must elect to receive your benefit payment electronically when you enroll. If you currently receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits by check, you must switch to an electronic payment option listed above."

The SSA has long encouraged beneficiaries to use direct deposit. I recall ad campaigns from long ago, must be the 1980's and 1990's, pushing direct deposit; this was to prevent mailbox theft of SS checks or actual robbery of elders on the day they'd go to the bank to cash their check.

Anyone now setting up a new My Social Security account will see how serious the SSA is about identity theft.

The SSA has a number of problems but I think they mostly get things right and mostly consist of dedicated people doing their best (though not all...I state from personal experience. haha).

S

sflibrarian

Contributor ⭐

Thanks for starting this thread. Also very grateful for info from @DonnaM857528 (below) with details on who to contact to enlist help in changing this. I will definitely follow up with letters/phone.

This is not a trivial issue … I received my 1099 from SSA with envelope perforation torn off on left side, exposing my full SSN. Others have also had this happen.

And to clarify (again): this is the annual 1099 that SSA sends out to retirees for tax filing. And yes, you can access this from their website but there is currently no way to opt out of receiving it by mail. (Apparently mandated by the IRS.)

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