An earnings record is an account of all the income a worker has received during their employment history. The earnings record is maintained by the Social Security Administration (SSA) and it is used to determine an applicant’s eligibility for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits. If found eligible, an SSDI applicant’s earning history will also be used to determine the benefit amount they’re entitled to. This is why it’s important for SSDI applicants to regularly check the SSA’s earnings record to ensure that it is accurate.
There are a number of ways you can obtain this information. You can receive a personal Social Security Statement from SSA.gov by using your my Social Security account. This statement will show your earnings records, as well as information pertaining to the retirement, disability, and survivor benefits you’re eligible for. The SSA will also mail paper statements to workers who are 60 and older three months before their birthday if they are not already receiving Social Security benefits and haven’t yet created a Social Security account. Finally, it is also possible to request a Social Security Statement to be mailed to you, which will arrive in four to six weeks.
