70% of Americans Haven’t Taken This Basic Social Security Step

About 70% of American adults have not created a personal my Social Security account, according to new research from the Social Security Administration (SSA). That means millions of workers are missing an easy way to review their earnings, estimate future benefits, and manage Social Security information online.

Even if retirement is decades away and you don't plan on living on just Social Security, checking this information now could prevent unwelcome surprises later. Here's what the research found and why registering may be worth a few minutes of your time.

Only 30% of adults have registered

The SSA research found that just 30% of U.S. adults had registered for my Social Security. Only 43.6% had even heard of the service.

The findings came from a nationally representative survey of 12,809 adults conducted between June 2022 and July 2024. The results don't necessarily mean people are deliberately avoiding the service. Many apparently don't know it exists.

The account does more than manage benefits

A my Social Security account isn't just for retirees already receiving monthly checks. Workers can use it to view their Social Security Statement, review their earnings history, and see personalized estimates of the benefits they might receive at different claiming ages.

People who receive benefits can also use the account to change direct deposit information, print benefit verification letters, access tax forms, and update their information.

You can check whether your earnings are accurate

The SSA calculates retirement benefits using a worker's earnings record. If wages or self-employment income are missing or incorrect, that mistake could affect the benefit calculation later.

Your online account lets you compare the SSA's record with old W-2 forms, tax returns, or pay records. Catching a problem shortly after it happens is generally easier than trying to reconstruct decades-old employment information when retirement is right around the corner.

Personalized estimates can improve retirement planning

Generic Social Security averages only tell you so much. The amount you might receive depends on your earnings history and the age you start claiming.

A my Social Security account provides estimates based on the income currently listed in your record. Seeing those numbers could help you decide how much to save, whether working longer makes sense, and how claiming earlier or later might fit into your larger retirement plan.

Younger adults have the lowest registration rates

Registration was especially uncommon among adults ages 30 to 49. Only 21% of that group had an account, compared with 39.6% of adults ages 50 to 61.

That may sound understandable. Social Security probably isn't competing with mortgages, child care, and everything else demanding attention in your 30s and 40s. Still, those are important saving years, and having a realistic benefit estimate could make retirement planning less abstract.

Registration rises as retirement approaches

Adults between 62 and 69 had the highest registration rate of 55.3%. That's probably not a coincidence. Social Security becomes much more immediate when someone decides whether to claim benefits or keep working.

However, waiting until then could leave less time to address an inaccurate earnings record or adjust your savings plan. Creating an account early gives workers more opportunities to review their information and watch how their projected benefits change.

A little information changed some people's minds

Another 14.8% of adults said they would be willing to register after the survey gave them a basic explanation of the service. Among adults ages 30 to 49, that share reached 20.5%.

That suggests a good portion of the registration gap may come down to simple awareness. People may be perfectly willing to create an account once they understand that the service is available before retirement and offers information they can use today.

Security and confusion remain real barriers, though

That said, the study also found that 13.9% of adults wanted more information before registering, while 9.4% cited security concerns and 3.8% pointed to difficulty with registration. Another 28.1% gave situational or open-ended reasons, like having no immediate need.

Those concerns shouldn't be brushed aside. Anyone registering should begin at the official SSA website rather than clicking an unexpected email or advertisement that asks for personal information.

Creating an account doesn't mean claiming benefits

Registering for my Social Security does not start retirement benefits or commit you to a claiming age. It simply gives you secure access to your own information and planning tools.

The SSA currently allows users to access the service through Login.gov or ID.me. Depending on the option selected, you may need an email address, phone number, government-issued photo ID, or a device with a camera to verify your identity.

Bottom line

With only 30% of adults registered for my Social Security, most Americans are missing a simple way to review their earnings history and get a personalized look at their future benefits. Because Social Security is one of the most important benefits for seniors, checking that information before retirement could help prevent costly surprises.

Don't treat registration as a one-time chore. Set an annual reminder to review your earnings record after receiving your tax documents, then save a copy of your latest Social Security Statement. That makes it easier to spot a new error while you still have the records needed to correct it.

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