The Social Security Administration (SSA) offers a free personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement. This statement shows your social security earnings history and estimates how much you have paid in social security taxes. It also estimates your social security retirement, disability and survivor benefits and tells you how you can qualify for these benefits. By requesting your Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement, you can confirm that the SSA has accurately recorded your contributions to date. The statement includes wages from employment and self-employment income but not income from passive investments. If you believe that your earnings records differ from those of the SSA, you can call the toll-free number on the statement to clarify the discrepancy. Also, you can use the statement's projected benefits to plan for your retirement. Your social security credits earned and the benefit estimates may change over time. Furthermore, the accuracy of your predicted earnings will determine the accuracy of your benefit estimates. Keep in mind that social security benefits are designed to supplement, not provide the exclusive means of, your retirement income. The SSA is allowed to collect the information requested in this letter under Section 205 of the Social Security Act. This information is required in order to identify your record and prepare the earnings statement. Providing these facts is voluntary, but without them, the SSA will not be able to give you an Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement. The SSA and its contractors may not use this information for any other purpose. It may take up to six weeks to receive your Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement. |