SSA Mandates Paper Statements: Workers Over 60 Will Get Annual Social Security Reports Starting 2027

This new legislation is straightforward: it forces the Social Security Administration (SSA) to send physical paper statements to most workers on a regular, age-based schedule. The SSA has until January 1, 2027, to get this new mailing system fully operational. The goal is to make sure your estimated benefits and earnings history aren’t just floating around in a digital cloud you might forget to check.

The New Paper Schedule: Who Gets What?

For those of us juggling work and life, this bill is basically a forced reminder to check on our retirement savings. The frequency of the mailings is tied directly to where you are in your career journey (SEC. 1). If you’re just starting out, you’ll get a statement right after you land your first job. After that, the schedule ramps up as you get closer to retirement age:

• Age 25 and Up: You’ll receive a paper statement at least once every five years.
• Age 55 and Up: The statements start coming more frequently—at least once every two years.
• Age 60 and Up: Once you hit 60, you’re guaranteed a paper statement every single year, giving you the most current look at your projected benefits right when you need it most for retirement planning.

Crucially, the bill specifies that the SSA must send these paper statements even if you’ve already set up an online “my Social Security” account. This is a big deal for folks who might not trust the internet completely or who just prefer having a physical document in hand. If you’re tired of the paper clutter, don’t worry—you still have the option to officially opt out of receiving the physical mailings.

The Cost of Paperwork and Peace of Mind

While getting this information regularly is a win for transparency, especially for older workers who rely less on digital communication, it’s not free. Printing and mailing millions of statements nationwide costs real money. Section 2 of the bill addresses this directly by authorizing Congress to appropriate “such sums as are necessary” starting in fiscal year 2026 to cover the administrative expenses. This means the SSA will have a dedicated budget to handle the increased printing, postage, and operational load required to meet this new mandate.

In the real world, this translates to a trade-off: increased administrative costs, funded by taxpayers, in exchange for guaranteed, regular communication about one of the most important financial safety nets in the country. It’s a move that prioritizes accessibility and financial literacy, ensuring that this critical information reaches everyone, regardless of their online habits.