Workers Can Check 35-Year Social Security Records in 15 Minutes to Estimate Benefits

3 articles · Updated · 24/7 Wall St. · Jul 21

SSA.gov lets individuals review their earnings record and see an estimated monthly Social Security benefit in about 15 minutes.
The estimate is based on a worker’s 35 highest-paid years, so figures are more reliable within 1 or 2 years of retirement and can shift more if retirement is 10 years away.
Checking the record also helps catch missing or incorrect wages that could shrink benefits, including employer reporting mistakes, name mismatches after marriage or divorce, or unreported freelance income.
W-2s and tax records can support corrections, and fixing errors before filing is generally easier than after a benefits application.
For people not yet near retirement, the report recommends making the review a yearly habit to confirm recent wages and keep benefit estimates current.

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