Social Security benefits are incredibly helpful when you have a disability and cannot work. If you receive them, the chances are good that you need that money and cannot afford to miss a check.
Unfortunately, there are many people out there who want to try to access your benefits. You should take steps to protect your benefits and make sure that you safeguard them against scams or theft.
Receiving them safely
You will want to find a way to safely receive your benefits. According to the Social Security Administration, if you started receiving benefits prior to May 1, 2011, then you could get them through the mail. It is important that you safeguard your benefit checks by updating your address right away if you move. You also should report missing checks within three days of not receiving them.
Always cash your check soon after you receive it, and do not sign it until you are at the bank. You can sign up for electronic payments if you like.
If you started getting benefits after that date, then you will get your benefits electronically. You need to make sure that you protect the account in which your benefits deposit. Do not give anyone access to the account or your debit card associated with the account.
Electronic payments are the safest way to receive your benefits because it allows for extra layers of security and there is little risk during the transfer from the SSA to you.
Protecting personal information
You also need to concern yourself with protecting your personal information. The SSA will collect quite a bit of information, and it relates many decisions to your Social Security number. You want to protect all of this information.
Know that the SSA will never talk to you without identifying who you are. You also must give permission to anyone with whom you want the SSA to discuss your case.
