The fastest way to check your Social Security account
You can view your Social Security earnings record and benefit estimates through my Social Security, the official account portal run by the Social Security Administration. Create a free account at ssa.gov/myaccount, sign in with your username and password, and you can see your earnings history, current benefit amount (if you are already receiving), and projected benefits at different ages.
You do not need to visit an office or call anyone. The portal is available 24 hours a day, and you can check it as often as you want. If you do not have an online account yet, setting one up takes about 10 minutes and requires your Social Security number, date of birth, and a valid email address.
Key Takeaways
- Create a free my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount to view your earnings record and benefit estimates without calling or visiting an office.
- Your earnings record shows every year you paid Social Security taxes and how much you earned, which directly affects your benefit amount.
- You can see what you would receive at age 62, your full retirement age, and age 70, so you can compare the trade-offs of claiming early or waiting.
- If you spot an error in your earnings record, report it to Social Security within three years, three months, and 15 days of the year the error occurred.
- You can also request a paper earnings statement by mail if you prefer not to use the online portal.
What information you can see in your account
Once you log into my Social Security, you will find several sections. The Earnings Record tab shows your year-by-year Social Security wages going back to 1951. This is the number Social Security uses to calculate your benefit — not your total income, but only the amount subject to Social Security tax (which has a cap that changes each year).
The Benefit Estimates section shows three scenarios: what you would receive if you claimed at 62 (the earliest age), at your full retirement age (which ranges from 66 to 67 depending on your birth year), and at 70 (the latest age to claim with delayed credits). These are estimates based on your current earnings record and assume you continue working until that age.
If you are already receiving benefits, you will also see your current monthly payment amount and a record of payments sent to you. You can read a benefit verification letter from this section, which some employers and landlords ask for as proof of income.
How to create your my Social Security account
Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and click "Create an account." You will need your Social Security number, date of birth, email address, and a phone number. Social Security will ask you to create a username and password and may ask you security questions to verify your identity.
If you have a state-issued ID or driver's license, you can use ID.me to verify your identity faster — this is optional but speeds up the process. Once your account is created and verified, you can log in when ready and view your information.
If you run into trouble creating an account, you can call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. Have your Social Security number and date of birth ready.
Checking for errors in your earnings record
Your earnings record is only as accurate as the reports your employers sent to Social Security. Mistakes happen — a name change that was not updated, wages reported under the wrong Social Security number, or a year where your employer did not report at all. If you spot an error, the sooner you report it, the better.
Social Security has a time limit: you must report an error within three years, three months, and 15 days after the year in which the error occurred. For example, if your 2020 earnings were reported incorrectly, you must report it by April 15, 2024. After that window closes, Social Security generally cannot correct it, even if you have proof.
To report an error, contact your local Social Security office or call 1-800-772-1213. Bring your Social Security card, proof of citizenship or legal residency, and any pay stubs or tax returns that show what you actually earned. Social Security will investigate and correct the record if they find an error.
Requesting a paper earnings statement by mail
If you do not want to create an online account, you can request a paper copy of your earnings record. Go to ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/statement.html and fill out Form SSA-7050-F (Request for Social Security Earnings Information). Mail it to the address listed on the form.
Social Security will mail you a statement within two weeks. This is slower than checking online, but it gives you a printed record you can keep on file. Some people request a paper statement every few years as a backup record.
Understanding your benefit estimate
The benefit estimates in my Social Security are based on your current earnings record and assume you will keep working until the age you claim. If you stop working, become disabled, or have a major change in income, your estimate will change.
The estimates also assume you will live to an average age. They do not account for cost-of-living adjustments (COLA) that happen each year, so the actual dollar amount you receive will likely be higher. The estimate is meant to show you the relative difference between claiming at 62, your full retirement age, and 70 — not the exact amount you will get.
If you are self-employed, make sure you have been reporting your income on your tax returns. Social Security pulls your earnings from your tax records, so if you did not file taxes for a year, Social Security has no record of those earnings.
What to do if you cannot access your account
If you forget your password, click "Forgot username or password?" on the login page and follow the steps to reset it. If you cannot verify your identity online, you can create an account in person at your local Social Security office or by calling 1-800-772-1213.
If you are over 65 and have never created an online account, you can also ask a trusted family member or representative to create a my Social Security account on your behalf using a power of attorney. Social Security has specific rules for this, so call ahead to ask what documents you need to bring.
Frequently Asked Questions
How often should I check my Social Security earnings record?
Check it at least once a year, especially if you are still working. This gives you time to spot errors and report them within the three-year window. Many people check it around tax time when they are thinking about their income anyway.
Will checking my account affect my benefits?
No. Viewing your account online does not change anything about your benefits or your record. You can check as often as you want with no consequences.
Can I see my spouse's or child's Social Security information?
No. Each person must have their own my Social Security account. If you are a representative payee for someone else (such as a child or disabled adult), you can view their information through a separate representative payee portal, not the regular my Social Security account.
What if my name has changed since I started working?
Your earnings record should still show all your wages under your current name, because Social Security matches records by your Social Security number, not your name. If you see missing years or wages under an old name, contact Social Security to have the records merged.
Can I print or read my earnings statement?
Yes. In my Social Security, you can read a PDF of your earnings record and benefit estimates. You can also print directly from your browser or save the page as a PDF for your records.