How to make my Social Security account completely paperless? Mail theft concerns

I tried to go paperless too but still get some mail from them. I think certain important notices they HAVE to send by mail legally.

That's what I was afraid of. Do you know which specific documents they always mail no matter what? I'm trying to figure out how worried I should be.

Unfortunately, SSA still requires certain communications to be sent through postal mail for legal reasons. You can minimize mail by setting up electronic delivery preferences in your mySocialSecurity account, but some documents (like initial benefit award letters, certain overpayment notices, and some Medicare-related information) will still come through USPS.To reduce risk:1. Check your mySocialSecurity account frequently so you know what to expect in the mail2. Consider getting a secure PO box for government mail3. Sign up for Informed Delivery through USPS to know when SSA mail is arriving4. Report any suspected stolen SSA mail immediately to both the postal inspector and your local SSA office

Thank you for these specifics! I didn't know about Informed Delivery - just signed up for it. I'll look into the PO box option too. Do you happen to know if my 1099-SSA tax forms must come by mail or can those be electronic only?

My mom switched to paperless for most things but she still gets mail from SS sometimes. I think they ALWAYS send the really important stuff by mail no matter what you choose in ur settings.

Regarding your 1099-SSA forms, you CAN access those exclusively online through your mySocialSecurity account. Go to your account, select

The Social Security paperless system is USELESS!!! I set up everything to be \

Same experience here! Said I was paperless but then got a letter about my Medicare premium change. Makes no sense.

I had the same mail theft concerns and found that while you can't go 100% paperless with SSA, you can significantly reduce what comes in the mail. For the documents that must be mailed, I had trouble reaching someone at SSA to ask questions until I tried Claimyr (claimyr.com). They got me connected to a real person at SSA in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. I was able to confirm exactly which documents would still come by mail so I knew what to watch for. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puUAfter talking with SSA, I ended up getting a PO box just for government mail. It's been worth the peace of mind.

Thanks for the suggestion! I've been trying to call SSA for 3 days with no luck. I'll check out that service. Did they tell you specifically which documents will always come by mail no matter what? That's the main info I need.

Social Security representative here. You can set most communications to electronic delivery through your mySocialSecurity account, but certain notifications are required by law to be sent via postal mail. These include:• Initial benefit award letters• Formal denial notices• Cessation of benefits notices• Some overpayment notices• Certain Medicare enrollment informationFor your 1099-SSA tax forms, you can select electronic-only delivery in your mySocialSecurity preferences. SSA is gradually expanding electronic options, but legal requirements still mandate paper for certain notices.If mail theft is a serious concern, consider using a secure PO box specifically for government communications. Also report any suspected theft of SSA documents immediately, as this could indicate attempted identity theft.

This is EXTREMELY helpful - thank you! I've been trying to get this specific list for weeks. I'll set up electronic delivery for my 1099 forms immediately and look into a PO box for the rest. Really appreciate the clear information.

Wait are u actually from SS or just someone who knows alot about it?? Cuz that list is super helpful if its real

I just went thru this with my dad. We set his account to paperless BUT he still gets these in mail:- yearly benefit amount letters - Medicare premium notices- something about his address verificationThe weird part is he can see all those same letters in his online account too! Why send both??

i got my ss account set up online but then forgot my password lol. they had to mail me a reset code thing. so even if u go paperless they still gotta mail some stuff i guess

Thanks everyone for the helpful responses! Based on what I've learned, I'm going to:1. Double-check my mySocialSecurity preferences to ensure everything possible is set to electronic delivery2. Get a PO box specifically for the government documents that must come by mail3. Sign up for USPS Informed Delivery to monitor when mail is coming4. Try that Claimyr service to speak with SSA directly about my specific situationReally appreciate all the insights - this community is always so helpful!

I work at a local post office and can confirm that mail theft has been a real problem in many neighborhoods lately. One thing that might help while you're setting up your paperless preferences - you can request "Hold for Pickup" service for your address through USPS. This means all your mail gets held at the post office and you pick it up when convenient. It's free for up to 30 days and can be extended. This could be a temporary solution while you get your PO box sorted out. Also, if you do get a PO box, make sure to update your address with SSA through your mySocialSecurity account - don't just rely on mail forwarding since some government mail doesn't get forwarded properly.

As someone who recently dealt with mail theft issues myself, I can add a few practical tips that helped me. First, if you're concerned about specific Social Security documents being stolen, you can actually request replacement copies through your mySocialSecurity account for most forms - this saved me when I suspected my benefit verification letter was taken. Second, I set up text alerts through my bank and credit monitoring services to catch any suspicious activity quickly, since stolen SSA documents are often used for identity theft. Also, if you do end up getting a PO box, consider getting the smallest size first - government mail doesn't take up much space and you can always upgrade later if needed. The monthly cost is pretty reasonable for the peace of mind. One last thing - document everything if you do have mail stolen. Take photos of your empty/damaged mailbox and file a report with both the postal inspector AND local police. Having that paper trail helped me when I had to prove to various agencies that my information might have been compromised.