Access Your Earnings History with my Social Security
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 2, 2023
It may have been years or even decades since you thought about how much you earned at your first job.
Did you know that you can find out how much you made that first year? Or any year you worked?
Your earnings history is a record of your progress toward your future Social Security benefits. We track your earnings so we can pay you the benefits you’ve earned over your lifetime. That is why it’s so important for you to review your earnings record.
You should review your earnings history and let us know if there are any errors or omissions, even though it’s your employer’s responsibility to provide accurate earnings information to us. Otherwise, you will not get credit for money you paid in payroll taxes, and your future Social Security benefits will be lower than you should receive. You’re the only person who can look at your lifetime earnings record and verify that it’s complete and correct.
If an employer didn’t properly report even just one year of your earnings to us, that error could reduce your future benefit payments. Over your lifetime, that could cost you thousands of dollars in retirement or other benefits that you’re entitled to receive. It’s important to identify and report errors as soon as possible. If too much time passes, it could be hard for you to get older tax documents. Also, some employers may no longer exist or be able to provide past payroll information.
The best way to verify your earnings record is to create or sign in to your personal my Social Security account. You should review your earnings carefully every year and confirm them using your own records, such as W-2s and tax returns. Keep in mind that earnings from this year and last year may not be listed yet. When you have a my Social Security account, we send you an email three months before your birthday to remind you to check your earnings and to get future benefit estimates.
You can find out how to correct your earnings record by reading our publication, How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record.
Start a conversation. Ask a family member or friend what their first job was and let them know they can find out what they made that year.
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Tags: General Information, my Social Security, my Social Security account, social security, Social Security benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Dawn Bystry, Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Deputy Associate Commissioner, Office of Strategic and Digital Communications
Comments
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Deb W.
Hello
I recently starting getting Social Security it’s under my deceased husband’s. I’m curious to know how I can see my work history. When I sign in, I see his, he past away at the age of 35. I’d like to see mine because I worked longer
and made better money.
I guess I’m asking how I can see my Soc Sec record
Thank you
RUBY A.
how can I verify my employment with a company 50 years ago?
Sue
Hi, Ruby. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You can view your full earnings history online using your personal my Social Security account. If you need employer names and addresses, you’ll need to complete and submit Form SSA-7050. For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
Sue
Hi, Deb. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You can create your personal my Social Security account to review your Social Security Statement and your complete earnings record. For more information about accessing your earnings history, read our blog. To speak with a representative, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., or contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Manuel
Hello! In the past I worked in the US under a temporary visa and I no longer live in the US. Is there any way to have access to my working history with my SS number?
Thanks!
Sue
Hi, Manuel. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. You can access your complete earnings record online through your personal my Social Security account. After you sign in and agree to the Terms of Service, select the blue Review your full earnings now link in the middle of the web page. If you’re living overseas, you can access your my Social Security account by registering and signing in with ID.me. If you don’t have an ID.me account, visit here and select “Sign in with ID.me” to get the process started. If you need a more detailed earnings history, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. If you still need assistance, visit our Office of Earnings and International Operations webpage. We hope this helps.
Cheryl E.
How do I find out the date I retired and applied for social security. Thanks, Cheryl
Sue
Hi, Cheryl. Thanks for visiting our blog and for your question. It sounds like you’re referring to a benefit verification letter. It contains your name, date of birth, the amount of benefits you receive, or if you have a pending claim. You can print your benefit verification letter by using your personal my Social Security account. For more information, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. If you still need help, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. or contact your local Social Security office. Wait times to speak with a representative are typically shorter Wednesdays through Fridays or later in the day. We hope this helps.
Dennis E.
I haven’t received my paycheck for this month of January 2024
Sue
Hi, Dennis. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comment. To learn how to report a missing payment, please read our Frequently Asked Questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter Wednesdays through Fridays or later in the day. We hope this helps.
Joanne L.
I signed into the SSI site to review my earnings for 2023. Today is Jan 1st 2024.
The comment on the site shows “Earnings have not been calculated yet”.
What date will those earnings be posted?? Thanks
Sue
Hi, Joanne. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. After you’ve filed your 2023 tax return, the IRS will send us your earnings. They should appear on your Social Security Statement later this year. For more information, check out our Social Security Statement webpage. We hope this helps.
Tom P.
I’ve found over the last several years that the prior year earnings show up in early February. This is only a guess, but seems to be associated with employers reporting earnings to the IRS (and you receiving a W2) rather than when individuals file tax returns.
Felitia D.
Is there a way for me to get a list of all of the jobs and employers that I have had in the past 20 years?
Abdurahim H.
I am trying to find out the same thing, about 45 years worth of work.
Sue
Hi, Felitia. Thanks for reading our blog and for your question. For information on how to get a detailed earnings statement, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.
MONICA
Hi am.am.teyimg to get a detailed work histriy going back 15 years with names addresss amd dates of employment for disbality thru ssi. I have forms to fill out and I simt bo where to look and I have no income to pay anyone where do I go to get help. I am on a time limit to fill this stuff out amd Mail immediately. I don’t want my application to be rejected or qomt get full s payment due to disbalities and wrong incorrect employment info
I don’t remember Andy dates.pr all the employers I have no info.
Sue
Thanks for reading our blog, Monica. If you need help completing the work history section of your disability or SSI application, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. You can also contact your local Social Security office. Wait times to speak to a representative are typically shorter Wednesdays through Fridays or later in the day. We hope this helps.
Dorothy M.
How is the 2024 increase calculated? I have been receiving $1975. MONTHLY. The increase for 2024 was said to be .032 percent. That calculates to $63.00 increase. But I got the notice that I would be getting $2024 monthly. That does not calculate correctly.
Joanne L.
Keep in mind that Medicare deduction for 2024 is $9.80 more than it was in 2023. Went from $164.90 to $174.70.
You can call 1-800-772-1213 & when prompted, ask for the Help Desk. Hope this helps.
Mr R.
I’m signed on to my account. I want to print my earnings history report. Your website takes me here and says create an account.
Why does your website give a big list of potential matches rather than an exact match answer option ?
Sue
Hi, Mr Ric. Thanks for reading our blog. You can access your complete earnings record online through your personal my Social Security account. After you sign in and agree to the Terms of Service, select the blue Review your full earnings now link in the middle of the webpage. You can also view your earnings record on your Social Security Statement, which combines your earlier years of earnings. If you still need assistance, please call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “help desk.” We hope this helps.
Kevin K.
2019 I retired at age 63. I get 1500 monthly. I’ve made a lot of money in my life I should receive more benefits.
Bruce
You can contact your local Social Security Office for an appointment.
In the mean time, you can do a little research. Does your earnings record on the social security website match how much you thought you made? If not, you may not have been a job that was covered by social security, or you need to provide W-2’s or other definitive records to correct the errors. If you were self-employed, your accountants could have reduced your earned income and underpaid social security. If your earnings are correct, you can calculate your estimated benefit by using the formula provided, or use the benefits estimator on this website.
Sue
Hi, Kevin. Thanks for reading our blog and for your comment. We base your retirement benefit on your highest 35 years of earnings and the age you started receiving benefits. Your benefits are reduced because you took them before your full retirement age. If you were born in 1956, your full retirement age is 66 and 4 months. If you began your Social Security at 63, your benefit is about 78% of your full retirement benefit amount. For more information about how we calculate benefits, please visit our Retirement Planner and review our fact sheet, Your Retirement Benefit: How It’s Figured. We hope this helps.