Check Your Social Security Report Online

You should check your Social Security report annually to make sure it is free from errors.  One of the more common errors is an incorrect amount of earnings reported in your earnings record.  Since your Social Security is based on your 35 highest earning years you want to make sure that they have all of your earnings recorded.  If you discover a mistake you can call your local office to have it corrected.  Other errors are possible so inspect all parts of your report.

To get your Social Security report online all you need to do is go to http://www.ssa.gov/mystatement/.  Once there you will have to verify your identity so you can create a “my Social Security” account.  After that is done you will be able to use your username and password to log in to your account in the future.  Inside your account you can get:

• Estimates of the retirement and disability benefits you may receive;
• Estimates of benefits your family may get when you receive Social Security or die;
• A list of your lifetime earnings according to Social Security’s records;
• The estimated Social Security and Medicare taxes you’ve paid;
• Information about qualifying and signing up for Medicare;
• Things to consider for those age 55 and older who are thinking of retiring;
• General information about Social Security for everyone;
• The opportunity to apply online for retirement and disability benefits; and
• A printable version of your Social Security Statement.

I have done it myself and the process was fairly simple.  If you haven’t yet signed up for an account you should sign up as soon as you can to ensure there are no errors in your report.