CLIPBOARD : HOW TO: Check Your Social Security Earnings Record

Don’t wait until retirement to make sure that your Social Security taxes have been properly recorded. According to the Social Security Administration, it’s a good idea to request an earnings benefit statement every three years, just to make sure your contributions are being correctly credited to your account.

“It’s possible for an employer to accidentally report your Social Security taxes under the wrong Social Security number. Even if it’s off by just one digit, your earnings could be credited to someone else. So it’s a good idea to check now and then, long before your retirement,” says Roy Aragon of the Social Security Administration.

Errors are sometimes found in the records of married women who have filed a joint tax return under their maiden name. Women who have changed their names through marriage or divorce should also check their records occasionally.

“It’s also a good financial planning tool,” Aragon says. “We can tell you how much you’d receive from Social Security if you became disabled and estimate what your benefits will be when you retire.”

By calling the number listed below or visiting a Social Security Administration office, you can obtain a form to request a benefit statement. It takes about five minutes to complete and can save you lots of time in the future. It requests your name, Social Security number and date of birth. It also asks you to state the age at which you plan to retire and an estimate of your average future earnings. Send the information to the address listed on the form.

In about six weeks, you will receive a report listing all earnings credited to your account, starting with the first year you were assigned a Social Security number. Compare it with your tax returns or W-2 forms to make sure it is correct. The report lists instructions on what to do if you find an error.

To obtain an earnings record request form, call (800) 234-5772 or drop by a Social Security Administration office. There are seven locations in Orange County: * Anaheim: 1070 N. State College Blvd. * Brea: 3230 E. Imperial Highway, Suite 150 * Garden Grove: 12912 Brookhurst St. * Huntington Beach: 16742 Gothard St., Suite 115 * Laguna Niguel: 24000 Avila Road * Newport Beach: 3663 Spruce St. * Santa Ana: 34 Civic Center Plaza

Source: Social Security Administration