Your Social Security account is a record the government keeps of your work history and earnings

A Social Security account is not a bank account — it is a file the Social Security Administration (SSA) maintains about you. It tracks every job you have held, how much you earned at each one, and how much you have paid into the Social Security system through payroll taxes. The SSA uses this record to calculate how much money you can receive when you retire, become disabled, or when your family members become may have access to to benefits based on your work history.

You get a Social Security number (SSN) — a nine-digit identifier — when you are born or when you first enter the country legally. That number is the key to your Social Security account. Every time you work and your employer reports your wages, those earnings are added to the account under your SSN. The account itself lives in SSA's computers, not in a bank.

This matters because the money you will eventually receive in retirement or if you become unable to work depends entirely on what the SSA has recorded about your earnings. If your employer reports your wages incorrectly, or if earnings are missing from your record, you could receive less money than you are may have access to to.

Key Takeaways

  • Your Social Security account is a government record of your work history and earnings, not a savings account you can access or withdraw from.
  • You can view what the SSA has recorded about your earnings by creating a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov.
  • Checking your account periodically helps you catch errors in your earnings record before you retire or file for benefits.
  • If you find an error, you will need to contact the SSA with proof of your correct earnings, such as old tax returns or pay stubs.

How your earnings get recorded in your Social Security account

When you work for an employer, your employer withholds Social Security tax from your paycheck and sends it to the federal government. Your employer also reports your wages to the SSA, usually through your W-2 form at the end of the year. The SSA records those wages under your Social Security number.

If you are self-employed, you report your own earnings on your tax return and pay self-employment tax, which includes Social Security tax. The IRS shares that information with the SSA, and your earnings are recorded the same way.

The SSA keeps a running total of your lifetime earnings. This record is what determines how much you will receive in benefits later. The system is designed so that people who earned more over their working years receive higher benefits.

How to check what is in your Social Security account

You can view your Social Security earnings record online by creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov. This is a free account that belongs to you — the SSA does not charge for it. To create one, you will need your Social Security number, an email address, and a way to verify your identity (usually a phone number or address on file with the SSA).

Once you log in, you can see a year-by-year breakdown of your reported earnings. The SSA shows you how much you earned in each year and how much you paid in Social Security tax. You can also see an estimate of how much you might receive in retirement benefits at different ages, or what your family members might receive if something happens to you.

If you do not want to create an online account, you can request a printed statement by mail. You can also call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and ask them to mail you a statement, though this takes longer.

What to do if you find an error in your earnings record

If you notice that the SSA has recorded earnings incorrectly — for example, if wages are missing or listed under the wrong year — you should report it. Errors can happen when employers report information incorrectly or when names change due to marriage or other reasons.

To report an error, contact the SSA directly. You can call 1-800-772-1213, visit your local Social Security office, or use your my Social Security account to send a message. The SSA will ask you to provide proof of your correct earnings, such as old tax returns, W-2 forms, or pay stubs. If you no longer have those documents, you can request a wage verification letter from the IRS.

The SSA will investigate and correct the record if they find an error. This process can take several weeks or months, so report errors as soon as you notice them. If you are close to retirement, correcting errors becomes even more important because your benefit amount depends on your complete earnings history.

The difference between your Social Security account and a bank account

Your Social Security account is often confused with a bank account because both have your name and a number attached to them. But they work very differently. A bank account is money you own and can withdraw whenever you want. Your Social Security account is a record that the government uses to calculate benefits you may receive in the future.

You cannot withdraw money from your Social Security account before you reach retirement age or meet other conditions (such as becoming disabled). The money you paid in Social Security tax does not sit in an account waiting for you — it goes to current retirees and people receiving disability benefits. When you retire, the money you receive comes from current workers' Social Security taxes.

This is why Social Security is sometimes called a "pay-as-you-go" system. You pay in while you work, and you receive benefits when you retire or become unable to work, funded by people who are working at that time.

When you will need information from your Social Security account

You will need to know what is in your Social Security account when you are ready to retire. The SSA uses your earnings record to calculate your retirement benefit amount. The more you earned over your working years, the higher your benefit will be.

You will also need this information if you become disabled and want to file for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). The SSA will review your earnings record to confirm that you have worked long enough and paid enough in Social Security taxes to may have access to.

Family members may also need information from your account. If you die, your spouse, children, or parents may be may have access to to survivor benefits based on your work history. The SSA will use your earnings record to calculate those benefits as well.

Why checking your account now matters

Checking your Social Security account while you are still working gives you time to fix any errors before they affect your benefits. If you wait until you are ready to retire to discover a mistake, correcting it may take months, and you might receive a lower benefit amount in the meantime.

Reviewing your account also helps you understand how much you might receive in benefits. The estimate you see in your my Social Security account is based on your current earnings record and assumes you will continue working until your full retirement age. This can help you plan for retirement and decide when you want to stop working.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I access the money in my Social Security account before I retire?

No. Your Social Security account is not a savings account you can withdraw from. The money you paid in Social Security tax goes to current beneficiaries. You can only receive Social Security benefits when you reach retirement age, become disabled, or meet other specific conditions set by the SSA.

What if I never created a Social Security account and I am close to retirement?

You can create a my Social Security account at any time, even if you are close to retirement. Go to ssa.gov and follow the steps to set one up. You can also call 1-800-772-1213 to request a printed earnings statement by mail if you prefer not to use the online account.

Do I need to do anything to keep my Social Security account active?

No. Your Social Security account is automatically maintained as long as you have a valid Social Security number. You do not need to make deposits, pay fees, or take any action to keep it active. The SSA updates your record automatically when your employer reports your wages.

What happens to my Social Security account if I change my name?

You should notify the SSA of a name change so your earnings record stays accurate. You can update your name through your my Social Security account, by mail, or by visiting a local Social Security office. Bring a document that shows your new name, such as a marriage certificate or court order.

Can someone else access my Social Security account?

Only you can access your my Social Security account using your login information. The SSA takes security seriously and requires identity verification to create an account. Do not share your password with anyone, and be cautious of websites or calls claiming to be from the SSA asking for personal information.