Income for every year that an individual works should be recorded with the Social Security Administration. This information is received from IRS tax records. Make sure your earnings history is accurate, since your Social Security benefit is generally based on 35 years of earnings.

Request Form 7004 - Personal Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement by calling (800) 772-1213 or download the form at the Social Security website.

You should receive your benefit analysis within several weeks of completing and submitting the form to the Social Security Administration. This statement will also provide a forecast of the benefits you can expect to receive at retirement.