Quick answer: Create a free my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see your personalized benefit estimate, review your earnings record, and manage your benefits. The estimate projects your monthly amount at nine different ages — including 62, your full retirement age, and 70 — from your actual lifetime earnings, but it is a projection, not a guarantee.
Key takeaways
- A my Social Security account at ssa.gov is free and shows a personalized estimate.
- Your estimate projects monthly benefits at nine different ages, including 62, full retirement age, and 70.
- Reviewing your earnings record lets you catch and fix mistakes that lower benefits.
- Estimates are projections, not guarantees, and update as your earnings change.
- Identity is verified through Login.gov or ID.me — only use the official ssa.gov site.
What a my Social Security account is
my Social Security is the SSA’s free online portal. Whether you are years from retiring or already receiving benefits, it puts your personal Social Security information in one place at no cost, around the clock. The online account is the fastest way to see your numbers and your Statement; SSA still mails paper Statements to workers 60 and older who do not have an online account.
What you can see and do
| Feature | What it gives you |
|---|---|
| Benefit estimates | Projected monthly amounts at nine different ages, including 62, FRA, and 70 |
| Earnings record | Your year-by-year reported earnings |
| Social Security Statement | Personalized summary, including disability & survivor estimates |
| Benefit verification letter | Proof of income for loans or housing |
| Manage payments | Update direct deposit or address if you receive benefits |
How to create your account
- Go to ssa.gov and choose “Sign In / Create Account.”
- Verify your identity through Login.gov or ID.me, the federal sign-in partners.
- Confirm your personal details to link your Social Security record.
- Sign in anytime to view your estimate, Statement, and earnings.
How to read your estimate
Your estimate is a projection based on your actual reported earnings — not a guarantee. Your basic benefit is calculated from your highest 35 years of indexed earnings, so your final benefit will differ from the estimate if your future earnings, or the age you claim, differ from what was assumed when the estimate was generated: claiming at 62 reduces it, and waiting toward 70 increases it. Use the estimate alongside our Full Retirement Age 2026 guide to compare scenarios before you decide.
Why you should check your earnings record
Your benefit is calculated from your lifetime earnings, so an error — a missing year, a wrong amount, or wages reported under the wrong name — can quietly lower your future check. Review your earnings record every year, ideally right after you file taxes, and compare it to your W-2s or self-employment returns. If something is wrong, contact SSA with proof to request a correction. Your basic benefit (“primary insurance amount”) is determined by indexing your highest 35 years of earnings to account for changes in average wages since the year the earnings were received, so fixing an error early is far easier than tracking down decades-old pay records later. See how benefits are calculated to understand why each year matters.
Only create your account on the official ssa.gov site — scammers run look-alike pages, and SSA will never ask for your password by phone or email. This is general information, not financial advice — confirm details with SSA.
Sources
- SSA — my Social Security
- SSA — Your Social Security Statement
- SSA — Your Retirement Benefit: How It’s Determined (Publication No. 05-10070)
- SSA — Protect Yourself from Scams
Last fact-check: July 29, 2026
Editorial status: Independent subject-matter review has not been completed.