Your future Social Security benefits are based on the earnings your employers (or you, if you’re self-employed) reported over your working life. If a year is missing or wrong, your benefit could be lower than it should be, and you may not notice until you apply.
The fix is simple: look at your Social Security Statement once a year. The Social Security Administration (SSA) recommends exactly that.
What the Statement shows
- Your year-by-year earnings record
- Personalized retirement benefit estimates at nine different claiming ages
- Instructions for reporting an error
How to get it online
- Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and choose to sign in or create an account.
- Sign in with Login.gov or ID.me. Both are identity services used by many federal agencies. You’ll need an email address and a government-issued photo ID, plus a phone number (Login.gov) or a device with a camera (ID.me).
- Once you’re in your my Social Security account, open your Statement.
- Check each year in the earnings record against your W-2s or tax returns.
The same account also lets you update your address and direct deposit, request a replacement card, and print proof of benefits.
If you’re 60 or older and don’t have an online account, the SSA mails a paper Statement about three months before your birthday.
What to look for
- Missing years. A year showing zero when you know you worked.
- Amounts that look too low. Compare with your W-2s or self-employment tax records.
- The most recent year. It may not be posted yet, which is normal.
How to fix an error
Gather proof, such as W-2s, tax returns, pay stubs or a letter from the employer. Then call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit a local office. The SSA’s form for requesting a correction is Form SSA-7008.
Don’t wait. There is generally a time limit of three years, three months and 15 days after the end of the year the wages were paid, although there are exceptions for things like employer reporting errors.
Five minutes a year is a small price for making sure your record matches what you earned.
More on Contoh
- How to Get an IRS Identity Protection PIN Before Tax Season
- How to Check Your Credit Reports for Free (Every Week)
- How to Freeze Your Credit (and Unfreeze It When You Need To)