It was a fun surprise every July: My annual letter from the Social Security Administration telling me how much I could expect to collect when I retire (along with what the difference would be if I packed it in at age 62, 66 or 70 - and it does pay to wait).

Even in my 30s I liked surveying my annual earnings, and fantasizing about what I could look forward to from Uncle Sam when I hit retirement age. (I know, I know - we wage earners fund Social Security. It still seems kind of like free money.)

But as of this year, there will be no more letters detailing golden year benefits - at least for the younger crowd. The Social Security Administration has eliminated its annual "estimate of benefits" statement for everyone under age 60.

The last letters went out in April, for people with July birthdays.

From now on, you'll have to check your potential benefits online at www.socialsecurity/gov/estimator. People who don't have Internet access can call 800-772-1213.

Social Security spokesman Stephen Richardson told me that the agency expects to save $30 million in FY 2011 by halting the mailings, and even more in future years. He also touted the online calculator: By letting users plug in additional personal information, he said, "It kicks up the paper statement a few notches."