Earnings Record

The earnings record is the record maintained by the Social Security Administration which tracks a worker's earnings during their employment. This information is used to determine eligibility for SSDI and the amount a worker qualifies to receive if they become disabled.

The SSA sends workers a copy of their earnings record annually around the worker's birthday. The SSA recommends reviewing your earnings record each year to make sure you have received full credit for your employment. Most employees will find their records are accurate, but errors do occur. For instance, if your employer does not report your information, you have had a name change (usually due to marriage or divorce) which was not reported, or there were mistakes in recording your Social Security number on work or tax forms your work history and earnings can be inaccurate.

If you find a mistake in your earnings record you will need to produce documentation to correct the errors such as W-2s, pay stubs, tax returns, or wage records and contact your local Social Security Administration Field Office. Failure to report errors in your earnings record could negatively impact your ability to receive SSDI benefits.