How to Correct Social Security Records
Each year shortly before your birthday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends you a Social Security statement. The Social Security statement is used to report your earnings that qualify you and your family to receive Social Security benefits, and if the information is inaccurate it could mean lower payment amounts. Information may be missing because an employer reported the wrong name or Social Security number to the SSA, your earnings were reported inaccurately or your name was not changed with the SSA after a marriage or divorce.
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Instructions
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Gather all documentation regarding the information you need to correct. For instance, if your earnings for 2008 are incorrect on your Social Security report, you can use your W-2 form, a wage stub, tax return or your own wage records to prove the amount is incorrectly reported and make the correction. If none of the documents are available, try to remember the dates, names and earnings for all employers in the year you are correcting and the SSA will attempt to verify the information for you.
To correct misspellings of your name, present a copy of your birth certificate. Changing your name after marriage or divorce can be completed by providing a copy of your marriage license or final divorce decree to the SSA.
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Find your local SSA office by visiting the Local Office Search tool on the SSA's website. The local office locator tool uses your zip code to determine the locations closest to your home.
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Contact your local SSA office for an appointment to begin making corrections to your records. The SSA also is available by telephone to answer questions. The SSA hotline, 800-772-1213, is available from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern Time, Monday through Friday. Corrections to your records cannot be completed via telephone, but the SSA operators can answer questions and direct you to the nearest office that can assist with the correction. A TTY hotline is available at 800-325-0778 for those who are hearing disabled.
U.S. citizens currently living outside of the United States can contact the SSA by mail to correct your records. Write a letter that includes your name, address, Social Security number, telephone number and the information you are attempting to correct. Include the same documentation you would if you were meeting with your local SSA office, such as W-2 form, tax returns, paycheck stubs, a copy of your birth certificate, marriage license or divorce decree. All correspondence should be mailed to Social Security Administration, Office of Central Operations
P.O. Box 17775, Baltimore, MD 21235-7775 United States of America.
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Tips & Warnings
Changing your information may not be fast. The SSA may have to contact current or former employers and wait for the return of information based on the documentation you provide. Providing detailed information, such as a completed W-2 form, may expedite this process.
