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If wages or self-employment income are missing from your Social Security record, sign in to my Social Security, check the year in question, and compare the record with your tax and wage documents. Then use the correction route for the type of mismatch: employees may request an earnings-record correction, while an employer must correct an incorrect W-2 it filed. Social Security calls this an earnings-record issue; a paycheck deduction alone does not show whether earnings have been posted correctly.
Check your complete earnings record first
Sign in to my Social Security and review your full earnings history, not just the most recent year. Compare the amount for the year in question with your W-2s, filed tax returns, and other wage records. The Social Security Administration (SSA) says employers report wages to it, while self-employed people report earnings directly to the IRS. SSA summarizes the employer process this way: “Every year your employer tells us how much money you earned so we can update your Social Security record.” (SSA: Review record of earnings.)
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A recent omission may be a posting delay rather than a permanent error. SSA says current-year and last-year earnings can take time to appear and recommends checking in August to confirm the previous year’s amount. (SSA: Review record of earnings; SSA earnings-record FAQ.)
Identify what kind of earnings are missing or miscredited
Employee wages are missing
Check whether the name and Social Security number on your W-2 match the details SSA has for you. A name change that was not updated, a typo, an employer reporting error, or use of the wrong Social Security number can prevent wages from being matched to your record. SSA reported in an April 15, 2021 release that approximately 10 percent of W-2s it received each year initially had mismatched name/SSN combinations. That is a historical figure from SSA’s 2021 release, not a current mismatch rate. (SSA, April 15, 2021; SSA earnings-record FAQ.)
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Self-employment income is missing
Check the tax return filed for that year to see whether your self-employment earnings were reported to the IRS. SSA says self-employed people report earnings and pay taxes directly to the IRS. Its guidance says they usually need at least $400 in net earnings for Social Security credits, although an optional method may allow credits below that amount. (SSA: How You Earn Credits.) If the tax return itself omitted or misstated income, the tax-reporting issue and the SSA record correction are related but distinct; the appropriate correction depends on the facts and the tax rules for that year.
Earnings appear on your record but are not yours
Ask SSA to investigate and correct the record. The agency may need to verify your identity, obtain a declaration under penalty of perjury, request Form SSA-7008, or ask for other documentation. SSA recommends bringing copies of filed tax returns for the years involved. If you suspect identity theft, SSA directs people to the Federal Trade Commission for reporting and identity-protection steps. (SSA: Remove earnings that are not yours.)
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Gather proof before contacting SSA
Collect records that support the year and amount you believe are wrong. Useful evidence can include:
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- Form W-2 or W-2c
- A filed tax return for the year in question
- Pay slips or wage statements
- Other records showing where and when you worked and what you earned
If you do not have documents, write down the employer’s name and location, dates worked, amount earned, and the name and Social Security number you used at the time. SSA says the investigation can take time and may require the agency or you to contact the employer. (SSA earnings-record FAQ.)
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Form SSA-7008, Request for Correction of Earnings Record, asks for the years and employers involved, correct wage amounts, supporting evidence, and separate information for self-employment earnings. If wage evidence is unavailable, the form asks you to explain why in its remarks section.
Choose the correction route that fits your case
| Problem | Who reports or requests the correction | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Employee wages are missing or wrong in SSA’s record | You can request an earnings-record correction from SSA; the employer may need to verify its report. | Use my Social Security if eligible, or contact SSA with wage evidence and the employer details. |
| Your employer filed a W-2 with incorrect information | The employer files the W-2c. | Ask the employer to submit a corrected W-2 and confirm it filed the correction. SSA says you do not need to make the W-2 correction yourself if the employer submitted the W-2c. |
| Self-employment earnings are missing | You report earnings through the tax return process; SSA maintains the earnings record. | Check the filed return and contact SSA about correcting its record. The correction depends on the tax reporting and evidence for the year. |
| Earnings belong to someone else | SSA reviews the record and determines what proof is needed. | Contact SSA, provide identity and supporting records, and follow any request for a declaration or SSA-7008. |
Request help from SSA
Eligible users can request a correction through my Social Security. SSA also lists its national phone number as 1-800-772-1213 and TTY as 1-800-325-0778. Depending on the issue, you may request a statement by mail, seek help by phone, or arrange assistance at a local Social Security office. Check SSA’s current contact and appointment instructions before you go, because procedures can change. (SSA: Review record of earnings; SSA: Remove earnings that are not yours.)
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Ask your employer to correct its wage report
If the error is in the W-2 the employer submitted, the employer—not the employee—files Form W-2c electronically or on paper. Ask for confirmation that the correction was filed and keep copies of the W-2, W-2c, and related correspondence. (SSA: Employer W-2c information.)
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The ordinary time limit is three years, three months, and 15 days after the end of the taxable year in which the wages were paid. That is not an absolute bar: federal law and regulations provide exceptions, including certain corrections supported by IRS-filed tax returns, omissions from processed employer reports or missing reports, errors apparent from SSA’s own processed records, and wages an employer reported as paid but that are absent from a worker’s record. (SSA: Review record of earnings.)
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After the ordinary period ends, SSA may correct a record when satisfactory evidence shows it is wrong and an exception applies. The regulation treats wage cases and self-employment tax-return cases differently; for example, a post-deadline self-employment return may permit SSA to remove or reduce recorded earnings, but not increase them. Whether an exception covers a particular old year depends on the facts and evidence, so do not assume the year is either automatically closed or guaranteed to be corrected. (20 CFR § 404.822.)
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