SSA Urges 73 Million Recipients to Check Earnings Records for Benefit Errors
Updated
Updated · The Globe and Mail · Jun 18
SSA Urges 73 Million Recipients to Check Earnings Records for Benefit Errors
3 articles · Updated · The Globe and Mail · Jun 18
Summary
More than 73 million Social Security recipients are being urged to compare SSA earnings records with their own documents to confirm benefit amounts are accurate.
Those records feed directly into the agency’s benefit formula, so missing or incorrect income years can reduce monthly payments even though AARP says such mistakes are rare.
The check starts on the my Social Security website, where users can review their full earnings history, verify personal details and request corrections online or with Form SSA-7008.
If records are missing, IRS tax transcripts can help for the past 10 years, while older proof may require contacting former employers, payroll providers or unions.
The guidance underscores that retirees and future claimants ultimately bear responsibility for catching SSA record errors before they affect lifetime benefits.