Check out your Social Security wage statement

June 22, 10:32 AMFinancial Literacy ExaminerClaire Moore

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Receiving mail from the government doesn’t always mean unpleasant news. Although a note with a return address of IRS is likely to strike fear in the most stalwart heart, an item from the Social Security Administration deserves your immediate attention.

Every year the Social Security Administration sends a statement of your earnings subject to Social Security taxation. It usually arrives about three months before your birthday. If you don’t remember receiving yours you can order one any time from the Social Security Administration. You should keep these statements and review them for accuracy because the information they contain can contribute to your retirement planning. For instance, if you have changed your name because of marriage or divorce, you need to make sure that your employer and the Social Security Administration have the correct information or else your tax refund may be delayed and your Social Security contributions may not be credited to your record.

The statement will tell you how much you are entitled to receive in retirement and in disability benefits now and in the future and how to qualify for those benefits.

If you request a copy of your statement, it will stop your regular annual mailing for this calendar year and you won’t receive your next statement until next year. To request your Social Security Statement you will need:

• Your name as shown on your Social Security Card
• Your Social Security Number
• Your date of birth
• Your place of birth
• Your mother's maiden name - last name only (to help identify you)

You can request your statement by filling out an online form at the Social Security web site. It will be sent to you by mail.
https://secure.ssa.gov/apps6z/isss/main.html

If you have Adobe Acrobat software on your computer, you can download an SSA-7004 form to be filled out an mailed in to the Social Security Administration.
http://www.ssa.gov/online/ssa-7004.pdf
 

You can see a sample of a Social Security Statement at the Social Security web site.
http://www.socialsecurity.gov/mystatement/statsamples.htm

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