By Lizna Odhwani

September is back-to-school month, and it’s also Hispanic Heritage Month. Social Security has resources available for both occasions.

Resources for teachers

It typically takes people a lifetime of planning to reach their retirement goals. The earlier young workers know about saving for their future, the better chance they’ll have at achieving a comfortable retirement. This is why Social Security has created a resource specifically for teachers and students.

Social Security’s Information for Educators page contains a toolkit with information and resources to educate and engage students on Social Security programs and services. Within the toolkit, you’ll find:

• Two lesson plans with objectives
• Infographics and handouts for each lesson plan
• Links to Social Security webpages
• Talking points
• Quiz questions and answers

It’s important for students to understand why Social Security was created and why it is essential to their lives today and in the future. This knowledge and understanding will provide students a strong base on which to build their financial future.

You can access the webpage and toolkit at www.socialsecurity.gov/thirdparty/educators.html.

Young workers can also see how Social Security directly relates to them at www.socialsecurity.gov/people/students.

Encouraging young people to save now for long-term goals that are decades away can be somewhat difficult. Let them know they have a better chance of realizing their dreams if they start planning and taking action early. And also let them know that they can share this information with friends, both in person and on social media.

Hispanic Heritage Month

Social Security touches the lives of nearly every American. Hispanics make up our nation’s largest ethnic minority group with a population of 58.9 million, representing 18.1 percent of the nation’s total population.

Social Security works hard to deliver great customer service and easy-to-access information about important programs and the benefits provided to millions of Americans. If Spanish is your primary language, you can visit www.ssa.gov/espanol, a Spanish-language website. It includes important information about how to get a Social Security card, plan for retirement, apply for benefits, manage your benefits once you’re receiving them, and much more. Many Social Security offices have staff who speak Spanish, or you may call 1-800-772-1213 from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. weekdays and select the option for Spanish.

Spanish-speaking individuals wishing to apply for retirement, disability, survivor, and other benefits, as well as Medicare, can request an appointment online at www.socialsecurity.gov/applyforbenefits for an in-person interview or telephone claim with a representative. In many cases, you can make an appointment with a bilingual representative.

Social Security also provides many publications in Spanish on popular topics like:

• Retirement, Disability, and Survivors benefits;
• Retirement planning;
• Online services information;
• Medicare; and
• Supplemental Security Income.

You can save, print and share them at www.socialsecurity.gov/pubs.

Social Security is here for you and your family. To learn more about what Social Security offers, go to www.socialsecurity.gov/people/hispanics.

Lizna Odhwani is a Social Security public affairs specialist based in Norfolk. Contact her at Lizna.Odhwani@ssa.gov.