How to Fix Your Social Security Earnings Record

Gather evidence of your earnings and make a call to the Social Security Administration.

Social Security Benefits Application Form
(Image credit: photojournalis)
Kimberly Lankford
By
published
in How-to

Question: Two years of earnings are missing from my Social Security earnings statement. How can I fix the error? --R.B., St. Paul

10 Things You Must Know About Social Security

Answer:

Call Social Security at 800-772-1213 and be prepared with a copy of your W-2 form, tax return or pay stub as evidence of the earnings. If you can’t find those documents, the Social Security Administration may be able to help you track down the information. Provide the name of your employer, the dates you worked and the name you used then (if you were married or divorced and used a different name), and an estimate of how much you earned. You can see your earnings statement by setting up a My Social Security account.

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Kimberly Lankford
Kimberly Lankford
Contributing Editor, Kiplinger's Personal Finance

As the "Ask Kim" columnist for Kiplinger's Personal Finance, Lankford receives hundreds of personal finance questions from readers every month. She is the author of Rescue Your Financial Life (McGraw-Hill, 2003), The Insurance Maze: How You Can Save Money on Insurance -- and Still Get the Coverage You Need (Kaplan, 2006), Kiplinger's Ask Kim for Money Smart Solutions (Kaplan, 2007) and The Kiplinger/BBB Personal Finance Guide for Military Families. She is frequently featured as a financial expert on television and radio, including NBC's Today Show, CNN, CNBC and National Public Radio.