You Have Until the End of 2025 To Do This Important Social Security Check

As the year draws to a close, you're probably reviewing the usual money moves, like topping off retirement contributions, thinking about a Roth conversion, or getting those last charitable deductions in before December 31.

But there's one more task that deserves a spot on your list: checking your Social Security earnings record. Every future benefit you receive depends on the wages reported in that record. If a single year is missing or incorrect, it can reduce your monthly checks for the rest of your life.

Below, you'll learn why this check matters, how to do it, and what to watch for so you can set yourself up for retirement.

How Social Security calculates your benefit

Social Security averages your 35 highest-earning years (after adjusting them for inflation) to determine your monthly benefit.

Here's how it works in plain terms:

• Each year of your earnings is indexed for inflation, so older wages are brought up to today's value.
• The SSA then averages your top 35 years of income.
• If you worked more than 35 years, your lowest years are dropped.
• If you worked fewer than 35, the missing years count as zeros, which drag down your average.

This means a single missing year on your record can shave hundreds of dollars off your lifetime benefits.

Checking your earnings record

The good news is that the Social Security Administration (SSA) makes it easy to view your complete wage history online. Here's what to do:

• Log in or create a "my Social Security" account.
• Open your earnings record from your dashboard by selecting "View Earnings Record" or "Earnings History."
• Review each year's income and confirm it matches your W-2s, 1099s, or tax returns.
• Look for missing years, obvious $0 entries, or totals that seem too low.
• Collect proof of your earnings, such as W-2s, pay stubs, or IRS wage transcripts.
• Keep these records handy in case you need to file a correction with Social Security.

That said, when reviewing your statement, be especially mindful of the following:

Name or SSN changes

If you've married, divorced, or legally changed your name, make sure the change was updated with the SSA and your employer before year-end payrolls were filed. Even a small mismatch between your name and SSN can send your wages into the SSA's suspense file, delaying credit to your record. Confirm that both your current and any previous names are listed correctly.

Multiple employers or short-term jobs

If you worked for several companies, particularly seasonal or small employers, it's easy for one W-2 to be missed or reported under the wrong tax ID. This can happen if an employer changes its EIN or merges with another business midyear. Collect all W‑2 forms and verify that each one is accounted for.

Self-employment income

Social Security bases these earnings on your federal tax return, specifically your net profit, which is the amount left after expenses on Schedule C or Schedule F.

Only that profit, reported via Schedule SE, counts toward your Social Security record. If you filed your return late or made amendments, the SSA might not have updated data yet. Make sure the income shows up correctly, and keep copies of your filed returns, Schedule SE, or IRS transcripts as proof.

Tips, bonuses, and cash wages

Tips only count if you reported them to your employer and they appear in Box 7 of your W-2. Unreported tips, like cash left at a restaurant or from rideshare gigs, won't appear in your Social Security record.

These smaller income sources may not seem like much, but over time, they can add up to higher lifetime earnings and a bigger monthly benefit when you retire.

What to do if your earnings are missing or wrong

If a year's wages are missing or too low, Form SSA-7008 is your way to fix it. The SSA relies on proof like W-2s and tax records to correct your file, so gather as much supporting documentation as possible before sending it in.

Here are a few things you can do:

• Download Form SSA-7008 from SSA.gov or get it from your local office.
• Fill in your personal details, including any past names used for work.
• List each year with missing or incorrect earnings and the right amount.
• Attach proof such as W-2s, pay stubs, or IRS transcripts (copies only).
• Mail or deliver the form and documents to your nearest SSA office.

It's a bit of paperwork, but getting this right can mean hundreds more per month in retirement.

Know your deadline for fixing errors

By law, you have 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days after the end of the year your wages were paid to request a correction with limited exceptions. In practice, this means:

• 2022 earnings: deadline is March 15, 2026
• 2023 earnings: deadline is March 15, 2027
• Earlier years: follow the same 3-year-plus-window rule

That means as 2025 ends, your window to fix 2022 (and older) records is closing fast. Checking your earnings record this year gives you time to gather proof and file corrections before it's too late.

Bottom line

Mistakes in Social Security earnings records happen more often than most people realize, but they're among the easiest financial problems to prevent. The best approach is to treat this check like any other year-end ritual when you're planning for retirement.

Just as you review your credit report or tax documents each year, take a few minutes to log into your mySocialSecurity account and review your wage history.

If everything looks accurate, you can move on knowing your future benefit is safe. If something's off, you'll have time to fix it while records and documents are still easy to find. A few minutes each year can protect your benefits and keep your retirement income on track.

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