ABA Family Legal Guide

The Rights of Older Americans

Social Security and Supplemental Security Income

What if I check on my benefits or file my claim and discover that the Social Security Administration has made an error in the number of quarters I worked or the amount of wages I was paid? Can I fix mistakes?

Yes. You have approximately three years from the year the wages were earned to fix mistakes. However, mistakes caused by an employer's failure to report your earnings have no time limit.

You can fix these mistakes any time, but you will need proof. A pay stub, written statement from the employer, or form OAR-7008 (Request for Correction of Earnings Record) are all acceptable types of proof.