Form SSA 7004: Your Social Security Statement Request
If you plan to start taking Social Security benefits, or you’re working with a financial planner, you may want to ensure that you have an updated version of your Social Security Statement. In that case, the U.S. Social Security Administration will expect you to complete Form SSA 7004, Request for Social Security Statement.
This article will walk you through everything you should know as you complete Form SSA 7004.
Table of contents
How do I complete Form SSA 7004?
While most of this is designed to be self-explanatory, we’ll walk you through how to complete this three-page form, step by step.
Important information
The top part of page one doesn’t contain any fields that you need to complete. However, there are a few things worth pointing out.
- You can obtain a copy of the same information online by establishing a My Social Security account through the SSA website.
- You may use this form to stop your next scheduled mailing of your benefits statement
- You may call the Social Security toll-free number, (800) 772-1213 if you have questions about this form.
- You may obtain a copy of this form in Spanish, instead of English, if you would prefer.
The top of the form also has the address where you should mail the completed form:
Social Security Administration
Wilkes Barre Direct Operations Center
P.O. Box 7004
Wilkes Barre, PA 18787-7004
If you prefer to complete Form 7004 in Spanish, you may obtain a Spanish language version of the form from the Social Security website.
Block 1: Name shown on your Social Security card
Fill in your first name, middle initial, and last name, as they appear on your Social Security card.
Block 2: Social Security number as shown on your card
Fill in the Social Security number that appears on your card.
Block 3: Date of birth
Fill in your date of birth.
Block 4: Other Social Security numbers you may have used
Most likely, this is not applicable. But if you’ve used other Social Security numbers in the past, put them in here.
Block 5: Actual earnings for last year & estimated earnings for this year
Block 5 is broken down into two sections.
Section A is the actual earnings from the previous year that are either:
- Wages or
- Net self-employment income that are subject to Social Security withholdings.
These are the earnings that help determine your eligibility for Social Security credits.
Section B is the estimate of earnings that you expect to receive this year.
Block 6: Show the age at which you expect to stop working
This should be the age you plan to stop working, not full retirement age or when you plan to apply for Social Security retirement benefits.
Block 7: Average yearly amount of future earnings
This block asks for the yearly amount of your expected future earnings, including any expected pay increases. It specifically asks that you do not include:
- Cost of living increases
- Total future lifetime earnings
This is an estimate, so you should be realistic. If you don’t expect any significant pay increases or changes in your future earnings, then you should enter your current salary.
Block 8: Mailing address
If you want this statement to be sent to you, simply fill in your mailing address, including your street address or P.O. Box number, city, state, and zip code.
If you want this to go to another person or entity, such as your accountant or pension plan administrator, then fill out the C/O information on the top line.
Signature
At the bottom of page 2 is the signature block. It’s important to note that the signature block is preceded by a statement acknowledging that all information is accurate to the person’s knowledge under penalty of perjury.
You’ll sign and date this area, and put down a phone number (including area code) where you can be reached.
Privacy Act Statement
The Privacy Act statement at the top of page 3 contains no fillable fields. But it’s important to understand that there are federal laws that determine what the Social Security Administration can (and cannot) do with your personal information.
For example, the SSA can share your information with the Internal Revenue Service to correct errors related to your earnings history or federal income tax withholdings. They may share this information with other agencies for the purpose of determining eligibility for benefit programs or for health benefits.
However, you do not have to provide this information against this will. By submitting this form, you acknowledge that the information you provided was voluntary.
Paperwork Reduction Act Statement
At the bottom of Page 3 is the Paperwork Reduction Act statement. Among other things, it says that the time estimate for completing this form is about 5 minutes.
Do I need to file SSA 7004?
Filing Form SSA 7004 is completely optional. You may obtain a record of your earnings history by establishing an online Social Security account on the Social Security website.
However, if you do not have internet access or are skeptical about having your personal information online, like your Social Security number, this is the best way to ensure the accuracy of your own work record.
How do I file SSA 7004?
You may file SSA 7004 by sending the completed form to the Wilkes Barre Direct Operations Center:
Social Security Administration
Wilkes Barre Direct Operations Center
P.O. Box 7004
Wilkes Barre, PA 18787-7004
You may also file a copy of your SSA 7004 with your local Social Security office.
What do I do if there is an error in my earnings history?
If, while checking your Social Security statement, you find an error in your earnings history, you may have to contact the Social Security Administration. But here are some things you should do first.
Wait for your statement to be updated
If the problem is with earnings from recent years, there might be a problem with the employer’s reporting that eventually gets sorted out. This commonly happens when the employer inadvertently reports earnings under an incorrect name or SSN.
But if the problem is with earnings from a previous employer, or it’s been more than a couple of years, then you might need to fix it yourself.
Gather proof of your earnings
Before you engage with the SSA, you’ll need to gather all of your important documents, and any additional information that verifies your income. This might include your previous year tax returns, federal income tax forms (like an employer’s W-2), pay stubs, and proof of employment history.
Contact the Social Security Administration
Once you’ve gathered your supporting documentation, you might want to call the SSA at their toll free number, 1-800-772-1213, to go over it. From there, you might start the process over the phone, but you’ll likely have to set up an appointment to visit your local Social Security office in person.
Once the Social Security Administration has your documentation, they’ll verify your information with their records and will probably contact your employer.
Expect problems
Here are some of the challenges you might see:
- Incorrect reporting by your employer. This probably can be resolved between the SSA and your employer.
- Wrong name. This happens when people get married or divorced and do not notify the Social Security Administration.
- Not all of your earnings are counted. For high earners, there is an annual ceiling for your Social Security earnings. In 2022, that ceiling is $147,000. This means that earnings above $147,000 are not included in calculating your Social Security benefits.
But recognize that it’s worth it. If your employer missed even 1 year of earnings, that could mean $100 or more per month. And over your expected retirement, that difference could mean tens of thousands of dollars.
Video walkthrough
Frequently asked questions about Form SSA 7004
Form SSA-7004 is known as the Request for Social Security Statement. This is the form that authorizes the Social Security Administration to send a paper statement based on a participant’s earnings record.
The paper statement contains a record of the participant’s earning history, an estimate of how much the participant has paid in Social Security taxes, and estimates the participant may be eligible for, both now and in the future. These estimates include Social Security disability and retirement benefits.
Yes. You may find your Social Security earnings statement online without having to file SSA 7004. You will need to have a my Social Security account, which you can establish through the Social Security Administration website.
If you have a my Social Security account already established, you can simply log into your account. All of the information is available in a convenient interactive dashboard.
You can download a copy of your Social Security earnings records for your personal files. You can also see how many Social Security credits you’ve accumulated over your working history.
Probably the best feature is an interactive dashboard where you can estimate your Social Security payments based upon future earnings and when you plan to file for retirement benefits.
The most important reason to obtain updated benefit estimates is to ensure that your Social Security record of earnings is correct. Because your earnings information directly impacts your Social Security benefits, it is in your best interest to ensure your benefit statements contain accurate information. By obtaining a current benefit statement, you can spot inaccuracies in your earnings history and take appropriate action to correct them before you file for Social Security benefits.
Where do I get a copy of SSA 7004?
You may obtain a copy of this form at the Social Security website. If it’s more convenient, you may also download a copy of SSA 7004 in PDF format below.
