You can now replace a lost or stolen Social Security card online, through a program being rolled out in Iowa and a half-dozen other states. B-J Jarrett, a spokesman for the administration, says if you can’t find your card and need it to show a prospective employer or the bank, log on to www.ssa.gov/myaccount.

“You need to create an account in order to take advantage of the Social Security Replacement Card service,” Jarrett says. “It just takes a few minutes to log on. We authenticate you, make sure you are who you say you are, we create that account and then we put in the request to order a replacement card. It takes about two weeks (in the mail), about the same amount of time it would take if you trek to an office to do it.” The online service is not available to people who need to make a correction to a card, change a name or apply for a child’s card. Once the account is set up, Jarrett says there are all sorts of tools available to help plan for retirement, including seeing your personalized earnings statement.

“It’s really one of the best things we do, here at Social Security, providing that opportunity for folks to help plan their future,” Jarrett says. “It’s not just for folks approaching retirement age. I’m 40 years old. I have a statement and I check it every year. I encourage folks even younger to log on, create an account and check their statement and see what Social Security means for them.” While Social Security benefits are a big plus, Jarrett says they’re only one piece of the retirement pie. On average, Social Security will replace about 40-percent of your annual pre-retirement earnings.

“That’s why that statement is so important for younger individuals,” Jarrett says. “It’s important that they see a picture of exactly what they’re due or what they’ll be eligible for so they can begin having the conversation and begin looking at other savings vehicles to help supplement what they would get from Social Security.” According to the latest projection, the trust fund that enables Social Security to exist is only solvent for another 19 years.

“We can still pay full benefits to beneficiaries up through 2034 and at that point, changes would need to be made,” Jarrett says. “Social Security’s been around 80 years and we certainly expect to be around 80 more years and beyond. We’re confident that Congress will make the necessary changes to ensure future generations will benefit from such a key program.” More than 600-thousand Iowans are now collecting Social Security benefits, either as retirees, survivors or for having a disability. Of that 600-thousand, about 430-thousand are retired.

(Radio Iowa)

Here is the latest Iowa news from The Associated Press

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — House Republicans have announced a new proposal for state oversight of Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program that they say emphasizes transparency. The plan released Thursday would require three private companies to provide information for quarterly and annual reports to lawmakers that would show progress under the new system. Data would also be posted online. Medicaid provides health care to poor and disabled residents in Iowa. It was switched to private management on April 1st.

DUBUQUE, Iowa (AP) — A fire official says 22 people have been displaced after a fire at a triplex in Dubuque. Assistant Fire Marshal Mike McMahon said that firefighters were dispatched to the triplex Wednesday night. The Telegraph Herald reports that 22 people, including 16 children, as well as two dogs evacuated safely. McMahon said that it seems there was an electrical fire in the attic.

MUSCATINE, Iowa (AP) — City crews in Muscatine are spending days remounting dozens of headstones that were toppled at a cemetery. The Muscatine Journal reports workers this week are fixing up to 30 headstones that were pushed off their pedestals at Greenwood Cemetery last weekend. Muscatine police are investigating the vandalism.

KALAMAZOO, Mich. (AP) — Allegations of mistreatment against women preceded the resignation of a newly hired Kalamazoo County administrator from Iowa. The Kalamazoo Gazette says Terrence Neuzil vigorously denies the allegations. Neuzil’s resignation was accepted Tuesday. He had moved to Kalamazoo from Iowa’s Johnson County, where he was one of five elected supervisors.

Governor Terry Branstad has approved the creation of an anti-human trafficking office within the Iowa Department of Public Safety. “This office will provide a main focus point of contact for human trafficking issues in the state,” Branstad says, “as well as the leadership necessary to help leverage other resources necessary to better address this heinous crime.” Foster care advocate Ruth Buckels of Story City says some Iowa law enforcement officials still don’t believe trafficking is a problem in their community.

“It is in small towns. It’s on the road. It’s in gas stations. It’s at hotels. It’s at motels. It’s at strip malls. It’s at the movie theater,” Buckels says. “It’s any place that youth are.” Buckels says she knows about 140 former human trafficking victims in Iowa. Six of them are now her adopted children. Legislators unanimously passed a bill that creates the new state government office to address human trafficking concerns. It’s expected to collect data about forced labor and sexual enslavement to determine the extent of the human trafficking problem in Iowa.

(Radio Iowa)

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) — House Republicans have announced a new proposal for state oversight of Iowa’s privatized Medicaid program that they say emphasizes transparency. The plan released Thursday would require three private companies to provide information for quarterly and annual reports to lawmakers that would show progress under the new system. Data would also be posted online.

A spokesman for the Democratic-controlled Senate, which has its own plan, says lawmakers are reviewing the Republican proposal. Senate Majority Leader Mike Gronstal, a Council Bluffs Democrat, said at a press conference held before the release of the GOP plan that his chamber wants to work with Republicans to reach consensus on the issue. Medicaid provides health care to poor and disabled residents in Iowa. It was switched to private management on April 1.