Ask most New Yorkers what they can expect to receive from Social Security when they retire, and many would probably shrug, or be off by thousands of dollars.

That’s remarkable when you consider that most of us spend our entire working lives paying into Social Security with every paycheck. We earn this benefit year after year, yet too many people, whether they are decades from retirement or quickly approaching it, never take the time to see what they’ve earned or understand what they can expect to receive.

The stakes are real.

The cost of groceries, housing, utilities and health care continues to rise, squeezing household budgets across our state. Few New Yorkers feel that pressure more than older adults. Here in New York City, the number of older adults struggling to make ends meet has increased dramatically over the past decade. Nearly one in five New Yorkers age 65 and older now live below the poverty line, and many are working longer simply to keep up with rising costs.

At a time when every dollar matters, so does every source of retirement income. That’s why Social Security remains one of the most important financial foundations for older Americans.

For 91 years, Social Security has helped Americans retire with dignity. It has never missed a payment. Today, roughly 3.8 million New Yorkers rely on it to help pay for necessities like housing, food, prescription medications and other everyday expenses. For many, it represents the difference between financial stability and financial hardship.

But Social Security shouldn’t be something you start thinking about only when retirement is around the corner.

On Aug. 14, AARP is encouraging New Yorkers to participate in My Social Security Day by taking a simple but important step: logging into their Social Security account and reviewing their statement.

It may not sound exciting, but it is one of the smartest financial checkups you can make.

Your Social Security statement shows your earnings history, provides an estimate of your future retirement benefits, and can help you identify errors before they become bigger problems. It gives you a clearer picture of your financial future and helps you make better decisions about retirement planning — whether retirement is five years away or 30.

If you’ve never created an online Social Security account, this is the perfect opportunity to do so. If you already have one, take a few minutes to log in and review your information. Knowing what you’ve earned today can help you better prepare for tomorrow.

That’s why AARP is asking New Yorkers to sign the My Social Security Day pledge. By taking the pledge, you’re making a commitment to log in, review your Social Security statement, and better understand one of the most important benefits you’ve earned through a lifetime of work.

It’s a small step that can provide valuable peace of mind.

Social Security is one of the most successful programs in our nation’s history, and Congress can and should act to ensure it remains strong for future generations. The answer isn’t cutting the benefits people have earned over decades of work. It’s preserving the promise that workers have paid into throughout their careers.

But protecting Social Security also starts with understanding it.

Too often, people wait until they’re ready to retire before thinking seriously about their benefits. By then, they may have missed years of opportunities to plan ahead, verify their earnings record and make informed decisions about their financial future.

Just a few minutes can help you plan for the years ahead.

Visit aarp.org/MySSday. Sign the My Social Security Day pledge. Log into your account. Review your statement. Learn what you’ve earned.

Because at a time when every dollar counts, understanding your Social Security benefits is one of the smartest investments you can make in your future.

Beth Finkel is the State Director of AARP New York.