How Client’s can Download a Social Security Statement and Historical Earnings XML from SSA.gov

Learn how your client can securely access and download their Social Security Statement and historical earnings record in XML format from SSA.gov for use in financial planning and analysis.

This guide walks you through the steps to obtain two key documents from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for your client:

1. The Social Security Statement (PDF)

2. The Earnings Record in XML format (used for importing historical earnings into financial planning software)

✅ Prerequisites

Before proceeding, ensure the following:

• The client has a my Social Security account at https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount

• You are working directly with the client — they must log in themselves due to federal privacy laws.

• The client can pass the SSA’s two-factor authentication (via email, text, or authenticator app).

📥 Step 1: Log In to the SSA Portal

1. Go to https://www.ssa.gov/myaccount

2. Click "Sign In or Create an Account"

3. Have your client log in with their username and password

4. Complete two-factor authentication as prompted

📄 Step 2: Download the Social Security Statement (PDF)

1. After login, on the dashboard, look for a section labeled “Your Social Security Statement”

2. Click on the View or Print Your Full Statement link

3. The statement will open as a PDF

4. Download it by clicking the Download or Print to PDF button in your browser

🗂 Step 3: Download Historical Earnings Record (XML File)

1. From the dashboard, locate the Earnings Record section

2. Click on “Download Your Earnings Record”

3. Choose XML format (not PDF or CSV)

4. Save the XML file securely to your device

⚠️ Note: The XML file is used for importing historical earnings into Social Security Timing.