Black Friday is the busiest shopping day of the year, with people lining up at midnight for deals as they begin the busy holiday shopping season. More people than ever are taking advantage of online holiday deals. Cyber Monday is the day internet-savvy people search for deals, all online.

You are smart, and you probably already know there is more than one way to find value on the internet. For example, Social Security offers many online services to the public — and they are free and secure! Doing business online with Social Security will also save time. The feeling of instant gratification is like clicking submit on that online shopping cart. Here are some of the most popular online services you will find at socialsecurity.gov. Each site is safe and secure.

Do you need a replacement Social Security card? You may be able to request your replacement card without visiting a local Social Security office. Still working and wondering what future Social Security benefits you might receive? The online Social Security statement is a smart service that is a hit with millions of people. Your online statement provides you with a record of your past earnings along with projected earnings for future years to give you estimates of future Social Security benefits. Do you already get Social Security benefits? You can use your online account to manage your benefits, such as starting or changing direct deposit, getting an instant proof of benefits letter, and much more. Just go to socialsecurity.gov/myaccount.

The retirement estimator is another easy way to get an instant, personalized estimate of your future Social Security benefits. Just enter some basic information and the estimator will use information on your Social Security record, along with what you input, to give you a benefit estimate on the spot. You can even experiment with different scenarios, such as changing your future earnings and retirement date. Check it out in English at socialsecurity.gov/estimator or in Spanish at segurosocial.gov/calculador.

The online retirement application is the most convenient way to apply for Social Security retirement benefits. You can apply from the comfort of your home — it is convenient and secure. In fact, you can apply online in as little as 15 minutes. In most cases, after you submit the application electronically, you are done. There are no forms to sign and, usually, no documentation is required. Social Security will process your application and contact you if they need further information. When you are ready to retire, apply atsocialsecurity.gov/applyonline.

Business Services Online is our one-stop shop for small business owners. The site allows organizations and authorized people to conduct business with and submit confidential information to Social Security. Employers can use it to file W-2s for their employees the fast, convenient, and paperless way — online. Visit Business Services Online at socialsecurity.gov/bso.

Social Security’s online services continually receive the highest customer satisfaction ratings in both the public and private sectors. Each site uses the highest security to keep your information safe. Learn more about all you can do online at Social Security on Cyber Monday, or any day, at socialsecurity.gov/onlineservices.

Brenda Brown is a Social Security public affairs specialist based in Fayetteville.

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Brenda Brown

Contributing Columnist