No matter your age, opening an online My Social Security account with the Social Security Administration is a smart move. It’s free, and even if you’ve yet to claim your benefits, you’ll get a personalized estimate of your future benefits based on your earnings to date. You can also request a replacement Social Security or Medicare card online. Once you apply for benefits, you can track your application and set up or change your direct deposit information.
Another big reason to open a My Social Security account is to prevent an identity thief from doing so first. A fraudster who sets up an account could claim benefits in your name or redirect benefits to a bank account that’s not yours. Claiming your account now, even if retirement is still years away, deters fraud.