Where to Check Your Work Credits Online

You can see your work credits and earnings record through my Social Security, the official Social Security Administration (SSA) online portal. Go to ssa.gov/myaccount, sign in with your username and password (or create an account), and select "Earnings Record" from the dashboard. The page shows every year you worked, how much you earned, and how many credits you received that year.

This is the fastest way to check because you get your answer when ready and can print or save the page. You do not need to call anyone or visit an office. The earnings record updates a few months after each tax year ends, so if you are checking in early 2024, you will see 2022 earnings but may not yet see 2023.

If you do not have a my Social Security account, you can create one using your email address, Social Security number, and identity verification (usually a driver's license or state ID). The setup takes about 10 minutes.

Key Takeaways

  • You earn one work credit for every $1,730 of wages in 2024 (the amount changes yearly), up to a maximum of four credits per year.
  • Your my Social Security account shows your complete earnings record and the exact number of credits you have earned in each year.
  • If you find an error on your earnings record, you must report it to SSA within three years, three months, and 15 days of the year the error occurred.
  • You can also request a paper earnings statement by mail if you do not use the online account, though it takes two to four weeks to arrive.

What the Earnings Record Actually Shows

The earnings record lists each calendar year you worked, the wages SSA received from your employer (or self-employment income if you were self-employed), and the number of credits you earned that year. The record goes back to 1951 or to the year you first worked, whichever is later.

One credit equals a specific dollar amount of earnings in that year. In 2024, you earn one credit for every $1,730 of wages. That amount increases most years. In 2023 it was $1,640; in 2022 it was $1,560. Because you can earn a maximum of four credits per year no matter how much you earn, someone who made $6,920 in 2024 and someone who made $100,000 in 2024 both earned four credits.

The record shows the credits SSA actually recorded, not the credits you think you earned. If your employer did not report your wages to SSA, or reported them under the wrong name or number, the credits will not appear. This is why checking your record matters — errors are not uncommon, especially if you changed your name, worked under a different name, or had an employer who made a reporting mistake.

How to Fix Errors on Your Earnings Record

If you see wages on your record that you do not recognize, or if you know you worked in a year that shows no earnings, you have a limited window to report the error. You must report it within three years, three months, and 15 days of the end of the year the error occurred. If you worked in 2021 and the wages are missing, you have until April 15, 2025 to report it.

To report an error, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visit your local Social Security office in person. Have your Social Security card, a photo ID, and proof of the wages ready — usually a W-2, pay stub, or tax return. If you were self-employed, bring your tax return or business records.

SSA will contact your employer to verify the wages. If the employer confirms the error, SSA corrects your record. If the employer does not respond or disputes the amount, SSA may ask you to provide additional proof. The process can take several months, so report errors as soon as you find them.

Requesting a Paper Earnings Statement by Mail

If you do not have internet access or prefer not to use my Social Security, you can request a paper copy of your earnings record. Call 1-800-772-1213 and ask for Form SSA-7050-F, or visit ssa.gov and search for "earnings statement." You can also pick up the form at any Social Security office.

Fill out the form with your name, Social Security number, date of birth, and current address, then mail it to the address on the form. SSA will send you a printed earnings record in two to four weeks. The record shows the same information as the online version but arrives by mail instead of appearing when ready on your screen.

Why Your Credits Matter for SSDI

Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) requires you to have earned enough work credits to be insured for disability benefits. The number of credits you need depends on your age when you become disabled. If you are under 24, you need six credits earned in the three years before you became disabled. If you are 24 to 31, you need credits equal to half the years since you turned 21. If you are 31 or older, you need 40 credits total, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before you became disabled.

Your earnings record is the proof SSA uses to determine whether you meet these requirements. When you file for SSDI, SSA pulls your record automatically and counts your credits. If you do not have enough credits, your claim will be denied on a technical basis before SSA even looks at whether your condition is severe enough to may have access to for benefits.

Checking your record before you file means you know whether you meet the credit requirement. If you are close but short, you may be able to work a bit longer to earn the remaining credits. If you are far short and cannot work, you may not be able to receive SSDI, though you might be able to receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) instead, which does not have a work credit requirement.

Understanding Credit Timing and Recent Work

SSDI has a specific rule about recency of work for people 31 and older. You need 40 credits total, but at least 20 of those credits must have been earned in the 10 years when ready before you became disabled. This means if you worked steadily from age 22 to age 35, then stopped working, you might have 40 credits but not meet the recency requirement if you do not go back to work.

Your earnings record shows the year each credit was earned, so you can count backward 10 years from when you became disabled and see whether you have 20 credits in that window. If you are missing recent credits, you know you need to work long enough to earn them, or your SSDI claim will fail on the recency test.

The recency rule does not explore to people under 31. If you are 24 to 30 and became disabled, SSA only cares that you have enough credits in the years since you turned 21 — there is no requirement that they be recent.

What Happens If Your Record Shows No Earnings

If you check your earnings record and it shows no wages in any year, or very few years, SSA may not have received reports from your employers. This can happen if you worked under the table, if your employer did not report to SSA, or if your wages were reported under a different name or Social Security number.

If you believe you worked but your record shows nothing, gather whatever proof you have: W-2s, pay stubs, tax returns, letters from former employers, or bank statements showing deposits from an employer. Contact SSA at 1-800-772-1213 and explain the situation. SSA can sometimes contact your former employer to request wage reports, or you can provide the proof directly.

If you cannot prove the work, SSA will not add credits to your record. This is why it is important to keep tax returns and W-2s for as long as possible — they are the strongest proof of earnings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How often should I check my earnings record?

Check it once a year, ideally in the spring after tax season ends and SSA has processed the prior year's wage reports. If you find an error, you have a important date to report it, so annual checks help you catch problems early. If you are planning to file for SSDI soon, check it at least a few months before you file.

Can someone else check my earnings record for me?

Only you can access your my Social Security account unless you give someone power of attorney or representative payee authority. If you want someone to help you check, you can log in together, or you can request a paper earnings statement and share it with them. SSA will not release your record to anyone else without written permission.

What if my name changed after I worked?

Wages earned under your former name may appear under that name on your record, or they may not appear at all if SSA did not match them to your current Social Security number. When you check your record, look for any years with missing earnings. If you find gaps, call SSA and explain the name change. Bring your marriage certificate, divorce decree, or court order showing the change, and SSA can try to match the old wages to your current account.

Does working part-time earn credits?

Yes. You earn credits based on total wages in a year, not on whether you worked full-time or part-time. If you earned $1,730 or more in 2024, you earned at least one credit, whether that came from one job or multiple part-time jobs. Self-employment income counts the same way.

What if I worked in another country?

Work in most countries does not count toward Social Security credits unless you were a U.S. citizen or resident alien working for a U.S. employer. If you worked abroad for a U.S. company or federal agency, those wages may have been reported to SSA. Check your earnings record to see. If you worked for a foreign employer, those wages generally do not count, though some countries have agreements with the U.S. that allow credit for certain work.