Requesting Your Benefit Estimate

April 13, 2006

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Your social security benefit will be based on the Social Security Administration's record of your earnings. The SSA is required to send an annual Earnings and Benefits Estimate Statement to people:

who have worked in Social Security-covered employment or self-employment,
who are not yet receiving benefits, and
for whom the SSA can find a current mailing address.

Since 1999, the SSA has been sending copies to workers age 25 and older. You can expect to receive the statement about three months before your birthday.

You can also request a statement at any time at the Social Security Administration's web site. If you'd prefer not to submit a request on the Internet, you can also download and complete Form SSA-7004 at the same location and mail it to the address on the form. If you include your social security wages for last year, your estimate for this year and future years, and the age at which you expect to retire, the SSA will also calculate your estimated retirement benefit. This information is free.

Keep track of your earnings record throughout your career. You should send for your Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement every three years to be certain the SSA has accurate information. In most cases, the SSA by law can correct errors only up to three years, three months, and 15 days after they occur. If you don't get a copy of your earnings history every three years and review it, you won't catch errors in time for correction.