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What did you do with that envelope that used to arrive once a year with estimates of your future Social Security benefits? You might have reviewed the information. You may have even filed the statement away as a reference. Now, this powerful financial planning tool is as close as the nearest computer. "Often, people don't think of their Social Security statement when thinking of their financial well-being," says Rod Griffin, director of public education for Experian. "But your statement can be a valuable financial planning tool." Your SSA statement is now available online at www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement. It provides an estimate of the amount of Social Security benefits you could receive upon retiring, but it can also help you with retirement savings strategies, estate planning and making decisions about disability insurance. Retirement Savings Knowing how much your Social Security payments will be can help you better understand how much you'll need to save in other vehicles to fund your lifestyle during retirement. After reviewing your statement online, you may decide to adjust your 401(k) contributions, open an IRA or seek other avenues for funding your retirement. The statement can also help you work with your current employer to ensure they're withholding the appropriate amounts. Estate Planning Your online statement will also give you an estimate of how much your survivors might be eligible for if you die. This information covers both spouses and minor dependent children. "This could be useful information when you're planning how you will financially take care of your loved ones if you pass away," Griffin says. Estate planning often involves considering what sources of income will be available to survivors, and knowing how much Social Security benefits yours could be eligible for can help in the planning process. Disability Decisions According to the SSA, 62 is the earliest age people can collect a reduced Social Security retirement payment, and the full retirement age is 67 for people born after 1960. But a 20-year-old worker has a three in 10 chance of becoming disabled before reaching retirement age, and the average age of people receiving Social Security disability benefits is just 53 years old. If you have a health problem that you know will lead to disability, knowing how much you could expect to receive from Social Security may help you make decisions about how much disability insurance you'll need. With the availability to access your Social Security earnings and benefit information online, it's easier than ever to make use of this important financial planning tool. The SSA uses Experian's fraud prevention services to securely authenticate and safeguard the identities of people accessing their earnings and benefits information online. To access your statement, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement, create an account and provide the information as prompted. You'll be able to access your benefit information and even see a history of your annual earnings for every year. For more information on how to live financially smart, go to www.livecreditsmart.com. Photo: Shutterstock

The Social Security Administration recently announced that in less than two months’ time, one million people have gone online, created a My Social Security account and viewed their Social Security Statement. The online Statement provides estimates for retirement, disability and survivors benefits. It also provides workers as young as 18 a convenient year-round way to determine whether their earnings are accurately posted to their Social Security records, which was not possible when the agency mailed paper Statements only to those 25 and older. On May 1, Social Security unveiled this new addition to its popular suite of electronic services at www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement, which allows people to access their Social Security earnings and benefit information securely and conveniently. According to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ASCI), users are giving the online Statement a score of 89 — making it competitive with Social Security’s other top-rated, best-in-government online services, such as the Retirement Estimator and online retirement application. The ASCI tracks trends in customer’s satisfaction and provides valuable benchmarking insights for companies and government agencies. As part of this online process, the SSA uses Experian's fraud prevention services to securely authenticate and safeguard the identities of people accessing their earnings and benefits information online. To access your online Statement, you must be at least 18 years old, have a Social Security number, have a valid email address and have a U.S. mailing address. To learn more or to create your own account, please go to www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement. One Million People Go Online to Access Their Social Security Statement ex.pn/LWqzlG via @tronbueno — Experian News (@ExperianNews) July 3, 2012

Experian Automotive today announced that it will offer National Motor Vehicle Title Information Systems (NMVTIS) Reports to California auto dealers, enabling them to stay in compliance with new government regulations. “As of July 1, 2012, all California dealers are required to provide a NMVTIS report prior to selling a used vehicle,” said Scott Waldron, president of Experian Automotive. Being an authorized NMVTIS seller reinforces our commitment to our dealer customers, enabling them to get an AutoCheck Vehicle History report and a NMVTIS report through their current AutoCheck access point. NMVTIS reports provide basic vehicle information in accordance with California state law. When paired with an AutoCheck® vehicle history report, used vehicle dealers and shoppers can feel confident that they are getting the right information to better understand, compare and select the right vehicle. Used car and truck dealers can access NMVTIS reports through Experian Automotive’s AutoCheck. To learn more about the NMVTIS reports from Experian Automotive, visit www.Experian.com/NMVTIS. For more information on Experian Automotive’s other products and services, visit www.ExperianAutomotive.com. Photo: Shutterstock