How to Get Your Employment History From Social Security
Your taxed earnings, year by year, free online, or itemized by employer on request.
- yearly earnings online
- Free
- earnings are recorded
- Per year
- form for detailed records
- SSA-7050
- deadline to fix most errors
- 3 yr 3 mo
Social Security doesn't keep a résumé of your jobs, but it does keep something just as useful: a record of the earnings reported under your Social Security number every year you've worked. That record is what your future retirement and disability benefits are calculated from, so it's worth pulling and checking. Yearly totals are free; a detailed version listing each employer is available for a fee.
How to get your record
- 1
Check your earnings record online (free)
Sign in at ssa.gov/myaccount and open your Social Security Statement. It lists your taxable earnings for every year you've worked under your Social Security number, the figures SSA uses to calculate your future benefit.
- 2
Request a Social Security Statement by mail
If you can't use the online account, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit a local office to have your Statement mailed. It shows the same yearly earnings totals.
- 3
Order a detailed earnings record with employer names
The free Statement shows yearly totals only. For a record that lists each employer and the wages reported, file Form SSA-7050-F4 (Request for Social Security Earnings Information). SSA charges a fee for itemized and certified records, the current amount is printed on the form.
- 4
Correct any mistakes
If earnings are missing or wrong, gather proof, W-2s, pay stubs, or tax returns, and contact SSA. You generally have 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days after the tax year to correct an error, though SSA can fix some records beyond that with strong evidence.
Which record do you need?
| Record | How to get it | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Yearly earnings totals | my Social Security (online) or your Statement | Free |
| Itemized record (per employer) | Form SSA-7050-F4 | Fee (see form) |
| Certified earnings record | Form SSA-7050-F4 (certified option) | Higher fee |
Frequently asked questions
- Does Social Security have my full work history?
- SSA records the earnings reported under your Social Security number each year, not job titles or duties. The free Statement shows yearly totals; a detailed SSA-7050 record adds the names of the employers who reported those wages.
- Is getting my earnings record free?
- Your yearly earnings totals are free through your my Social Security account or a mailed Statement. SSA only charges for the detailed itemized or certified earnings records ordered with Form SSA-7050-F4.
- Why should I check my earnings record?
- Your benefit is calculated from your 35 highest earning years. Missing or understated wages, from a name change, employer error, or a wrong Social Security number, lower your future benefit, so it's worth verifying well before you retire.
- How do I fix an error in my earnings record?
- Contact SSA with evidence such as W-2s, pay stubs, or filed tax returns. Most corrections must be made within about 3 years, 3 months, and 15 days of the tax year, but SSA can correct older records when you provide convincing proof.
- How far back does my earnings record go?
- It covers every year you've had earnings reported under your Social Security number, going back to your first taxed job.
Related: get an award letter · average check by age. Need help in person? Find your local office.