Your Social Security earnings history is one of the most useful pieces of information to have when reviewing your benefits with a Registered Social Security Analyst® (RSSA®).
It shows the earnings Social Security has recorded for each year you worked. Because those earnings are used to calculate your benefits, having an accurate record gives your RSSA® a stronger starting point for comparing different Social Security options.
The easiest way to get this information is directly from the Social Security Administration through your personal my Social Security account.
Go Directly to the Social Security Administration
Start by visiting the official my Social Security website:
From there, sign in to your existing account or create a personal account if you do not already have one.
A my Social Security account gives you secure access to your Social Security Statement, current earnings history, benefit estimates, and other personal Social Security information.
How to Find Your Earnings History
Once you are signed in:
- Open your Social Security Statement or earnings information.
- Look for the section showing your earnings record or earnings history.
- Review the yearly amounts to make sure they look complete.
- Download or save your Social Security Statement or available statement data for your records.
- Keep the file somewhere secure until you are ready to use the information for your Social Security analysis.
Your online Social Security Statement includes your yearly earnings history along with estimates of retirement, disability, and survivor benefits.
Depending on the options available in your account, Social Security also supports downloading Statement data electronically.
Why Your Earnings History Matters
Social Security uses your earnings record when calculating your future benefits. That means even small differences in the information being used can affect an analysis.
Reviewing the official record directly from Social Security helps make sure the numbers being used reflect what the Social Security Administration currently has on file.
It is also a good opportunity to check the record yourself. The Social Security Administration recommends reviewing your earnings history because missing or incorrect earnings can affect future benefit calculations.
Downloading Your Record Is Optional
You do not have to download your Social Security earnings history to work with an RSSA®.
If preferred, the earnings amounts can be entered manually using information from your Social Security Statement or other records.
However, using the information directly from your my Social Security account is generally the best way to reduce transcription errors and make sure the analysis is based on the same earnings record Social Security currently has for you.
Every year of earnings can play a role in the calculation, so accuracy matters.
Protect Your Personal Information
Your my Social Security account contains sensitive personal information and should always be treated carefully.
Only sign in through the official Social Security Administration website at SSA.gov.
Never enter your Social Security number, account password, verification code, or other sensitive information into a website unless you are certain it is legitimate and secure.
We do not ask for your Social Security number, and an RSSA® does not need your Social Security number to review your retirement options.
Neither we nor an RSSA® can sign in to your Social Security account or retrieve this information on your behalf. Access to your personal Social Security account should remain under your control.
What If Something Looks Wrong?
Take a moment to review the earnings shown in your account before using them.
If a year appears to be missing or an amount does not look correct, the Social Security Administration provides instructions for reviewing and correcting your earnings record.
It is better to address a possible error with Social Security directly rather than trying to adjust the number yourself for planning purposes.
What Information Should You Save?
For Social Security planning, the most useful information is generally your year-by-year earnings history.
Your Social Security Statement may also include helpful information such as:
- Estimated retirement benefits at different claiming ages
- Disability benefit estimates
- Survivor benefit estimates
- Your current earnings record
These estimates can provide useful context, while your earnings history gives an RSSA® the underlying information needed for a more detailed analysis.
A More Accurate Starting Point
Gathering your earnings history only takes a few minutes once you are signed in, and it can make the Social Security planning process much easier.
You can always provide your information manually, but getting it directly from the Social Security Administration helps reduce errors and gives you confidence that the analysis is starting with the most complete information available.
