Your Social Security statement can help you plan for retirement. The statement includes a message from the commissioner and a record of earnings each year.

It can provide retirement benefit estimates using different retirement scenarios and also give estimates of disability and survivor benefits for employees in the event that they become disabled or die.

Most workers who pay Social Security taxes will automatically receive a statement in the mail each year, about three months before their birthday.

In some situations, a person may not be receiving a statement each year, such as workers whose earned income is low enough that they don't need to file a tax return, those younger than 25 or those already receiving benefits.

You can request that a statement be mailed to you by going to www.socialsecurity.gov/ mystatement.

Those who request a statement must provide their name as shown on their Social Security card, their Social Security number, date of birth, place of birth and their mother's maiden name.

The online request can also be used by people who receive a statement each year but can't find their most recent one.

For general information about Social Security, call (800) 772-1213, TTY at (800) 325-0778 or visit www .socialsecurity.gov.