How to check your Social Security earnings

Regularly reviewing your Social Security earnings record can really pay off, especially when every dollar counts in retirement.

If an employer did not properly report just one year of your work earnings to us, your future benefit payments from Social Security could be close to $100 per month less than they should be. Over the course of a lifetime, that could cost you tens of thousands of dollars in retirement or other benefits to which you are entitled. Sooner is definitely better when it comes to identifying and reporting problems with your earnings record. As time passes, you may no longer have easy access to past tax documents, and some employers may no longer be in business or able to provide past payroll information.

So, what’s the easiest and most efficient way to validate your earnings record?

• Go to socialsecurity.gov/ myaccount to set up or sign in to your own my Social Security account.

• Under the “My Home” tab, select “Earnings Rec ord” to view your online So cial Security Statement and taxed Social Security earn ings.

• Carefully review each year of listed earnings and use your own records, such as W2s and tax returns, to confirm them.

• Keep in mind that earnings from this year and last year may not be listed yet.

• Notify us right away if you spot errors by calling 8007721213.

More detailed instructions on how to correct your Social Security earnings record can be found at socialsecurity. gov/pubs/EN0510081.pdf.