Social Security numbers have been receiving a lot of attention because crooks use this number and other information to steal your identity. But another reason to think about your social security record is to make sure your employment and earning history are recorded accurately.

If you don’t pay attention now you may be in for a rude awakening if there is a mistake in your file and it is more than three years old.

Employment documents that go back more than three years may be difficult, if not impossible, to retrieve and that means you may be unable to correct an error.

That’s why you should check your social security record every three years to verify that your earnings have been recorded correctly. It is simple to do. Just ask your local office to send you an earning and benefit estimate form. Fill it out and send it back to the address on the document. When your statement arrives, check it with care. If there is a mistake contact your local social security office at once to correct the problem.