How accurate is my Social Security Statement?
Emma Jordan
Published Mar 01, 2026
The estimates on the Social Security statements issued by Social Security are only as accurate as the earnings data used. If they include a presumed level of future annual earnings that don’t end up being earned, for example, the estimates are likely to be inaccurate.
How do you find out what you’ve paid into Social Security?
Go to and open an account with Social Security to view your statement. (You can no longer request a printed statement either using Form SSA 7004.)
How often do you make a mistake on your social security statement?
Mistakes sometimes happen with people’s earnings statements, potentially leading to incorrect Social Security payments. These mistakes don’t happen very often, but they happen enough that you should pay attention to your own earnings statement. The SSA used to mail out earnings statements to workers annually, but it cut back to save money.
What happens if you make a false statement on a social security application?
When people apply for Social Security Benefits, they state that all information they provide on the forms are true and correct to the best of their knowledge. If a person reports something they know is not true, it may be a crime. An individual indicates on their application that they are not married…
What causes a person to make a social security error?
“The first place where most people make mistakes is where their earnings histories are incorrect,” says Joseph Roseman, managing partner at O’Dell, Winkfield, Roseman & Shipp. Social Security benefits are based on recipients’ top-earning 35 years, and discrepancies between the administration’s records and clients’ earnings can lead to an error.
Why did I miss my social security check?
In “ How to Correct Your Social Security Earnings Record ,” the Administration outlines common reasons for missing earnings. These include name changes due to marriage and divorce, incorrect W-2s and employers’ clerical errors. Fortunately, the SSA also makes it easy to check your earnings history.
