Damon C. Williams, USA TODAY NETWORK
Tue, August 18, 2026 at 6:35 PM UTC
The Social Security Administration recently marked its 91st anniversary, but Americans don’t need to be nearing retirement to take a closer look at their Social Security records.
Experts recommend reviewing your earnings history periodically because Social Security benefits are based on your lifetime earnings. Missing or incorrect earnings information could potentially affect future retirement, disability or survivor benefits.
Fortunately, the Social Security Administration offers free online tools that allow workers to review their earnings records, estimate future benefits and track benefit-related information through a my Social Security account. These tools can also help people monitor retirement, disability and Supplemental Security Income applications.
Whether you’re planning for retirement, receiving benefits or simply want to make sure your employment history is being reported accurately, taking a few minutes to review your Social Security information can help you identify potential issues before they become larger problems later on.
Damon C. Williams is a Philadelphia-based journalist reporting on trending, breaking and service-related topics across the Mid-Atlantic region for the USA Today Network.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Is your Social Security record accurate? Here’s how to find out