As I pulled out a Social Security Annual Statement to write this post, I looked at the date. Yikes!
I have Paul’s 2011 statement but not this year’s statement. I checked the date on my record and found 2010’s statement but missing 2011 and 2012.
Guess I did not complete last week’s project. Oops! I’ll have to get on that this week. 😉
If you completed last week’s project, then you are ready to review your Social Security Annual Statement for accuracy.
Reviewing Your Annual Statement
Though your statement consists of 4 pages, only pages 1 through 3 contain information you can verify. The last page offers facts and extra help getting information. To review your annual statement, check the following information for accuracy:
Page 1
1. Your name listed after “Prepared especially for”
2. Your name and address under the bar code
Page 2
1. Your date of birth – the third line from the bottom of the first section
2. Your social security number or the last 4 digits
Page 3
Match your W-2 Wage and Tax Statements for each year with the listed amount under Your Earnings Record. You should find Your Taxed Social Security Earnings in Box 1 and Your Taxed Medicare Earnings in Box 3 of your W-2 form.
If you find discrepancies between your records and the numbers listed on your Social Security Annual Statement, then note those differences and set aside your documentation.
Weekly Project: Review your Social Security Annual Statement.
Though this step is time-consuming, you are the only one who can verify this information. If you cannot find your W-2 forms, work with what you have. Keep searching for those tax records because your Social Security Annual Statement determines your future benefits.
In using time wisely, review your annual statement and note all incorrect information. Next week, I will share the process I undertook to correct the discrepancies in my record. Keep organizing. I’m working along with you updating and verifying our information. Happy reviewing!
Question: How do you like the weekly project?
I think it is great that you are providing this type of information to your readers. I sure wish someone had told me about this years ago. I will soon reach the age of social security eligibility and I am trying to get W-2 forms from two employers that I had 15-20 years ago because the Social Security statement shows several years of no earnings when I was working full time and was paying into social security. I just did not realize until late how important it is to check the earnings statement for accurcy and to keep those W-2 forms.
Your story breaks my heart. I’m so sorry you are going through this hassle. I wonder how long the IRS keeps their records.
Back in the day, you had to submit your W-2 forms with your tax return. If they have old records, then you might recover that information. Keep working. I know it is difficult, but your future benefits are based on those earnings. Thanks for your comment, Ruth!