Your Social Security statement shows how much you’ve earned over your working life and how much you can expect in retirement, disability and survivor benefits. You can see it any time, for free, through a my Social Security account. Checking it once a year can catch costly earnings mistakes before they shrink your benefits.
Quick answer
- Go to ssa.gov/myaccount (type it yourself).
- Sign in with Login.gov or ID.me; you can create an account if you don’t have one.
- Open your Social Security Statement to see your earnings record and benefit estimates.
- It’s free; Social Security never charges to access your statement.
📱 Short on time? Swipe through the 1-minute Web Story version.
How to create your my Social Security account
- Go to ssa.gov/myaccount and choose to sign in or create an account.
- Create or use a Login.gov or ID.me account and verify your identity.
- Link it to your Social Security record by answering the questions shown.
- Turn on the strongest sign-in protection offered and keep your recovery details current.
What to check on your statement
| Section | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Earnings record | Missing or wrong earnings can lower your future benefit; compare with your W-2s |
| Retirement estimates | Shows estimated monthly benefits at different claiming ages |
| Disability and survivor estimates | Shows what you or your family could get |
| Medicare information | Shows whether you have enough work credits |
Found a mistake in your earnings?
Gather proof such as W-2s, tax returns or pay stubs and contact Social Security to correct it. Fixing errors early is easier than years later, when records can be harder to find.
Other things you can do online
- Get a benefit verification letter.
- Download your SSA-1099 tax form if you receive benefits.
- Change your address or direct deposit if you get benefits.
- Request a replacement Social Security card in many cases.
⚠️ Social Security won’t call, text or email to threaten you, suspend your number or demand payment by gift card, wire transfer or crypto. Hang up and report impostor scams to the SSA Office of the Inspector General.
Can’t sign in? Fixes for the most common problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| Identity check fails online | Double-check your name exactly as it appears on your Social Security card, and your address. If it still fails, you can verify your identity in person at a Social Security office. |
| You have an old SSA username and password | Social Security has moved sign-ins to Login.gov and ID.me. Create one of those accounts with the same email and link it to your record. |
| “Your account is blocked” | You or someone else may have blocked electronic access. Call Social Security or visit an office with ID to remove the block. |
| Credit freeze blocks verification | Some identity checks use credit-bureau data. Temporarily lift your freeze for a day, or verify in person instead. |
| No smartphone for codes | Login.gov and ID.me also offer phone-call codes and other options. Pick the one that works for you during setup. |
How to read your benefit estimates
Your statement shows estimated monthly retirement benefits at different ages. The biggest decision is when to claim:
- Age 62 (earliest): the smallest monthly check, permanently reduced.
- Full retirement age: 67 for anyone born in 1960 or later. You get your full benefit.
- Age 70 (latest that counts): the largest monthly check. Your benefit grows for every month you wait past full retirement age, up to 70.
These are estimates, not promises. They assume you keep earning about what you earn now until you claim. If you stop working early, take time off, or your pay changes a lot, your real benefit can be lower or higher. Benefits also rise each year with the cost-of-living adjustment. Benefits will rise 3.6% in 2027 (see our Social Security COLA 2027 guide).
Work credits: do you have enough?
To qualify for retirement benefits you generally need 40 work credits, about 10 years of work. In 2026, you earn one credit for every $1,890 of covered earnings, up to four credits a year (so $7,560 earns the maximum four). Your statement shows how many credits you have. If you are short, even part-time work can help you reach 40.
Credits decide whether you qualify. The size of your check depends on your highest 35 years of earnings, which is why every year on your earnings record matters.
How to fix wrong earnings on your record
- Find the year that looks wrong. A year showing $0 or far less than you earned is the most common error. Recent years can show as blank simply because they have not been posted yet.
- Gather proof for that year: W-2 forms, tax returns, pay stubs, or self-employment tax records.
- Contact Social Security by phone or at a local office. They can often fix it by looking up the earnings directly.
- If needed, fill out Form SSA-7008 (Request for Correction of Earnings Record) and send it with your proof.
- Check your statement again a few months later to confirm the correction.
Don’t want to go online? Get a paper statement
If you are 60 or older, are not getting benefits yet, and don’t have an online account, Social Security mails you a paper statement about three months before your birthday each year. At any age, you can also ask Social Security to mail you one; it usually arrives in four to six weeks. Online is faster and always up to date, so most people are better off creating the account.
Protect your account from scammers
- Create your account even if you don’t need it yet. If you don’t, a criminal with your Social Security number could try to open one in your name.
- Use a strong, unique password and the strongest sign-in option offered.
- Never share sign-in codes. Social Security will never ask for them by phone, text or email.
- Freeze your credit at all three bureaus for extra protection. Here is how to freeze your credit for free.
Your once-a-year statement checklist
- Earnings: compare last year’s posted earnings with your W-2 or tax return. Do this every year, while the paperwork is easy to find.
- Credits: confirm you have, or are on track for, 40 credits.
- Retirement estimates: note the amounts at 62, full retirement age and 70, and how they changed from last year.
- Disability and survivor estimates: make sure your family knows what they could receive.
- Personal details: check your name, date of birth, address and phone number.
- Account security: confirm your email and recovery phone number are current.
Helping a parent or spouse check theirs
Each person needs their own account; you cannot open one in someone else’s name, even for a parent. The safest way to help is to sit with them while they create the account on their own device, using their own email and phone number. If they can’t manage the account, Social Security can appoint a representative payee for someone who receives benefits, or they can call or visit an office for help.
Married? Look at both statements together. A lower-earning spouse may qualify for a spousal benefit of up to half of the other spouse’s full benefit, and survivor benefits depend on the deceased spouse’s record. That is why both earnings records need to be correct.
What your statement does not show
- Pensions from jobs that didn’t pay Social Security tax, such as some state and local government jobs. Check those plans separately.
- Your Medicare premiums. If you are on Medicare, your Part B premium is usually taken out of your check, so the amount deposited is lower than the benefit shown. See our guide to the Medicare open enrollment period.
- Taxes. Part of your benefit may be taxable depending on your total income. Your SSA-1099 form shows what you received each year.
- Earnings from this year. New earnings usually appear after your employer’s W-2 is processed, often the following year.
For a full retirement picture, add your 401(k), IRA, any pension and your savings to the Social Security estimate. The statement is the foundation, not the whole plan.
Frequently asked questions
How do I see my Social Security statement online?
Sign in at ssa.gov/myaccount using Login.gov or ID.me, then open your Social Security Statement.
Is a my Social Security account free?
Yes. It’s free, and Social Security never charges to view your statement.
How often should I check my Social Security statement?
At least once a year, to make sure your earnings are recorded correctly.
What if my earnings are wrong?
Gather W-2s or tax records and contact Social Security to correct your record.
More Social Security and money guides
Last reviewed: October 16, 2026.
Sources: SSA: my Social Security; SSA: How can I get a Social Security Statement?; SSA: Quarter of coverage 2026; SSA: Form SSA-7008; SSA: Benefit reduction for early retirement.
