Discrepancies on my Social Security earnings record - should I fix the $15,000 error before applying?

Yes, you should absolutely correct that $15,000 error! Even small errors in your earnings record can affect your benefit calculation, but a $15K difference could significantly impact your PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). Your benefit is calculated based on your highest 35 years of earnings, so if one year is short by $15K, that could mean a permanent monthly reduction. Contact SSA right away with your W-2s and tax returns as proof. The process usually takes 2-3 months for corrections to process, so starting now gives you plenty of time before you plan to file. The smaller discrepancies probably won't make a big difference unless they're in your highest-earning years.

I had same issue last year. Most of my record was fine but they missed about $8,000 from a job I had in 2014. I just ignored it and applied anyway cuz dealing with SS is SUCH a pain!!

You should definitely get this corrected, especially the $15,000 error. Here's why: each year of earnings impacts your benefit calculation, and SSA uses your highest 35 years. The process isn't too difficult but requires persistence. You'll need to file a Request for Correction of Earnings Record (Form SSA-7008). Include copies (not originals) of your W-2s and tax returns for those years. I went through this process about 18 months ago and it took about 10 weeks to get resolved. As for the smaller discrepancies, they might be due to how certain types of income are counted. For example, some non-covered employment or pre-tax deductions might create small differences between your tax returns and what counts for Social Security purposes.

my cousin had this problem and they told him after 3 years nothing could be fixed. something about statute of limitations. hope thats not true for your case

I just went through this EXACT situation last year!!! The whole process was a NIGHTMARE with SSA. I had THREE years with earnings missing ($9,000, $12,000 and about $5,000) and I spent MONTHS trying to get through to someone on the phone. When I finally got my local office to return my calls, they kept telling me different things each time!!!! One person said I needed form SSA-7008, another said just bring in the W-2s, then another one told me I needed certified tax transcripts from the IRS!!!! It was INFURIATING!!!! But I will say it was ABSOLUTELY worth doing. When they finally fixed my record, my estimated monthly benefit went up by $172/month. Over a 20 year retirement that's like $41,000 extra!!!

I'm a bit confused about something - how do you actually check your earnings record? Is that the same as the estimated benefits statement? I'm 58 and should probably be looking at this too...

hey does anyone know if this affects SSI too or just retirement benefits? my mom has some years missing i think

Update: I called the SSA today and after a 45-minute wait, I spoke with someone who was actually very helpful! She confirmed that I should definitely correct the $15K error and said it could affect my benefit by about $65-75 per month. She also explained that the smaller discrepancies under $1000 likely wouldn't change my benefit calculation enough to worry about. She's sending me Form SSA-7008 and said I should include copies of my W-2 and tax return for 2019. She also said there's no time limit for corrections when you have proper documentation. Thanks everyone for your help!

its crazy how they can just mess up ur record like that and not tell u. makes u wonder what else is wrong that we dont know about

Great update! I'm glad you were able to get through to someone helpful at SSA. $65-75 per month is definitely worth the effort - that's nearly $1,000 per year in additional benefits. One tip: when you submit your Form SSA-7008, consider sending it via certified mail so you have proof of delivery. Also, make copies of everything you send them. The process can sometimes take longer than expected, and having documentation of what you submitted and when can be helpful if you need to follow up later. Also, since you mentioned you're planning to file for benefits in about 5 months, you should have plenty of time to get this correction processed. Most earnings record corrections take 8-12 weeks, so you're in good shape timing-wise.

As someone who's been through the SSA earnings correction process myself, I can confirm that fixing that $15K error is absolutely the right move! The potential $65-75 monthly increase you mentioned adds up to almost $1,000 annually - that's significant money over your retirement years. A few additional things to consider: When you submit Form SSA-7008, include a brief cover letter explaining exactly which year and what amount is incorrect. This helps the processor understand your case quickly. Also, if you have your 2019 tax transcript from the IRS (you can request it online at irs.gov), include that along with your W-2 and tax return - it provides extra verification of your reported income. One thing that might save you time: before mailing everything, double-check that your 2019 W-2 wages match what you reported on your tax return. Sometimes people discover the discrepancy is actually on their tax filing rather than SSA's record, which would require a different approach. Good luck with the process - sounds like you're well-prepared and have plenty of time to get this resolved before filing for benefits!

I'm glad to see you got helpful advice from SSA directly! That $65-75 monthly difference really highlights how important it is to have accurate earnings records. I went through a similar situation about two years ago with a $12,000 discrepancy from 2017, and the whole process took about 10 weeks from start to finish. One thing I'd add to the great advice already given here - when you get your Form SSA-7008, fill it out completely and legibly. I made the mistake of leaving a section blank thinking it didn't apply to me, and they sent it back asking for clarification, which delayed my case by about 3 weeks. Also, once you submit everything, you can actually check the status of your earnings correction request through your mySocialSecurity account online. Look for "Message Center" where you can see updates on any pending requests. It's much easier than calling and waiting on hold again! The fact that you're handling this 5 months before filing gives you a nice buffer. Even if there are any hiccups in the process, you'll have time to resolve them before your planned filing date.

I'm glad you were able to get through to SSA and get such helpful information! That $65-75 monthly difference really shows how much those earnings record errors can impact your benefits over time. As a newcomer to this community, I've been learning a lot from reading everyone's experiences with SSA processes. It's encouraging to see how people have successfully navigated these corrections, even when it takes some persistence. The advice about keeping detailed records and using certified mail seems especially important. One question I have - when you submit the Form SSA-7008, do they send you any kind of confirmation that they received it? It sounds like the whole process can take a few months, so I'm wondering how you know if your paperwork actually made it to the right place or if it's just sitting in processing somewhere. Thanks for sharing your update - it's really helpful for those of us who might face similar situations in the future!

This thread has been incredibly helpful! As someone who's approaching retirement age myself, I had no idea how important it was to check your earnings record for errors. I just created my mySocialSecurity account after reading all these responses, and sure enough, I found a couple of years that look off. It's really reassuring to see how many people have successfully gone through the earnings correction process, even if it takes some patience and persistence. The specific tips about Form SSA-7008, certified mail, and getting IRS tax transcripts are exactly the kind of practical advice that makes this seem much less overwhelming. @Luca - congratulations on getting through to a helpful SSA representative! That $65-75 monthly difference really drives home why it's worth the effort. I think I'm going to start gathering my old tax documents this weekend to see if I need to file any corrections myself. Better to deal with this now rather than discover problems right when I'm ready to file for benefits. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world guidance that's so valuable when dealing with government agencies!

This is such a valuable discussion! As someone who's new to understanding Social Security benefits, I had no idea that earnings record errors could have such a significant long-term impact on monthly payments. The fact that a $15,000 discrepancy could result in $65-75 less per month really puts things in perspective - that's potentially thousands of dollars over a retirement lifetime. What strikes me most is how proactive everyone needs to be in checking their own records. It seems like these errors don't get caught automatically, so it's really up to each individual to review their mySocialSecurity account regularly. The advice about checking annually makes a lot of sense. @Luca - I'm glad you were able to get through to a helpful representative and that the process seems manageable with the 5-month timeline you have. The step-by-step guidance everyone has provided here (Form SSA-7008, certified mail, including tax transcripts, etc.) creates a really clear roadmap for anyone facing similar issues. Thanks for sharing your experience and keeping us updated - it's exactly the kind of real-world information that helps demystify dealing with government agencies!