Check those Social Security statements

Published 9:00 pm Saturday, December 6, 2003

If you’re an American worker, you get a note prior to your birthday each year from the Social Security Administration. It’s not exciting stuff, but it is important because errors can cost you money at a time when you need it most — in retirement.

The message from Uncle Sam is a statement of earnings with an estimate of benefits and the name, Social Security number and date of birth. An error by the agency in any one of these areas could have later consequences when it’s time to collect benefits.

Older people may be at particular risk because, while it is easy to double check whether last year’s earnings are correctly noted, information from past years may no longer be available. Social Security statements have been sent out only since 1999, leaving as much as 30 or more years of unchecked earnings information. If a former employer has gone out of business or if the worker was self-employed, verification difficulties can be compounded.

Dan Ferrell, a Social Security communication director for the Seattle region, advised people to look at the statements each year and check to see that all information is accurate, to use the document as a retirement planning tool and to assess their financial health in the event of disability or for survivor benefits.

All of this information, Ferrell noted, is listed on the statement, which goes out to workers 25 years and older. If an error is discovered, contact Social Security, he said.

"We can work with them to try to figure out what the corrected amount is so they get full benefit of work they’ve done," Ferrell said.

Contacting the agency may pose the first hurdle to correcting any errors, however. Of the six offices listed in the telephone book in the Everett-Seattle area, one number has been disconnected; two answer, put the caller on hold and then deliver a message and hang up; and three list the national toll-free telephone number.

Ferrell said the local numbers "aren’t supposed to be in the book. There’s no requirement that we publish them in the book; we steer them to the 800 number."

For some, including seniors seeking survivor benefits, getting access to services through a multi-tiered, automated phone system can be confusing and daunting. For many others, it’s simply an exercise in frustration. The alternative may be to go the local office or try to get information on the agency’s Web site. Ferrell did say that callers to the toll-free number can just wait without speaking and they will be routed to a service agent. Callers can also set up an appointment with the local office through the toll-free number.

Another source of help is federal elected officials. Abbey Blake, press secretary for Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.), whose district includes most of Snohomish County, said constituents can call Larsen’s office for assistance if they have trouble resolving problems with Social Security.

"We can step in and be the middle person with their congressional liaison," Blake said. "We can open up the case and look into the record.

Blake acknowledges the problems people may have in reaching someone who can assist them.

"It seems like we’re moving farther and farther away from access to the system," she said, adding that automated phone systems are like "trying to peel an onion, layer after layer, to get to someone. Online resources serve a percentage of the population, but not everyone."

Tim Beard, a Social Security liaison officer, said there are a number of ways to correct inaccurate records, even from many years ago. Records from tax returns, union offices, state unemployment, a supervisor or foreman or the IRS can help correct errors.

"We don’t have any time limit on filling in the blank spaces. We can go back 30 to 40 years," Beard said.

After checking the information and math on an earnings statement, if an error is discovered or a question arises about past earnings, workers should assemble all the records available, such as IRS returns, bank records and other sources of information. Copy the documents and try to reconstruct what the amount should be. Call Social Security and make an appointment to bring the information to a local office. Or go there, but be prepared for a wait, as appointments are limited and arranged through the toll-free number.

It often takes some time for corrections to be posted, so be patient. Be sure to write down the name of the person with whom you speak and ask for a new statement if an error is corrected to verify that it has been posted to your account.

Sue Ellen White is a student at the University of Washington’s School of Communications.