No matter how much you’ve planned, there’s no better time than now to think about your future. Here are some things you can do right now to ensure your financial security. Planning for the future may seem intimidating, but we’ve broken the task down into five easy steps:

>> Step 1: Get familiar with Social Security. You and Social Security are on a journey for life, but there is so much you may not know about the benefits and services available. Social Security delivers financial security to millions of children and adults before retirement; including the chronically ill, children of deceased parents and wounded warriors. Learn more at socialsecurity.gov/agency.

>> Step 2: Verify your earnings. Benefits are calculated using your employment records. You can use your personal my Social Security account to verify that your earnings are recorded accurately. Access your account at socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

>> Step 3: Estimate your benefits. With Social Security’s Retirement Estimator, you can estimate your future retirement or disability benefits based on your earnings record. This can be invaluable as you plan for your future. View calculators at socialsecurity.gov/ planners/benefitcalculators.html.

>> Step 4: Apply for benefits. You can apply for retirement, Medicare, or disability benefits online through the easy-to-use, secure online application. Read more about benefits and how to apply at socialsecurity.gov/benefits.

>> Step 5: Manage your benefits. Verify your payment information, change your address or phone number, get a benefit verification letter or start or change direct deposit of your benefits at socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

Get to know the many ways Social Security helps secure today and tomorrow for you and your family at socialsecurity.gov/5steps.

Nicole Tiggemann is a spokeswoman for the Social Security Administration.