Here are the top 5 ways your Social Security check could be wrong — and there’s a very real chance that it is wrong

1. Your work history could be wrong

The first big issue to watch out for is an incorrect work history.

Benefits are based on an average of your inflation-adjusted earnings during the 35 years you earned the most income. Social Security records your earnings to calculate benefits, but the data may contain errors. If it does, that could cause problems.

If your reported earnings are too low, you'd end up with a smaller benefit payment than you deserve while if they are too high, it could mean someone improperly used your Social Security number. If the Social Security Administration finds out that happened, they could claw back benefits.

According to the Social Security Administration, you have three years, three months, and 15 days from the taxable year when wages were paid to correct your earnings record.

However, there are some exceptions: you can also correct earnings later to conform to records filed with the IRS, correct mistakes due to missing employer reports, include wages paid to you but not shown and correct errors on processed reports.

You can check your report by creating an account at mySocialSecurity.gov. You should also contact the Social Security Administration ASAP to fix those errors, and have proof like W-2s, tax returns or at least your employer's contact details ready.

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2. Wrong start date for benefits

The wrong start date for benefits is also a problem that could lead to you getting the incorrect amount of money. This can happen if the Social Security Administration keys in the wrong info about when you claimed your payments.

Your start date matters because there's a system of early filing penalties and delayed retirement credits. You see benefits shrink for each month you claim ahead of your full retirement age and increase for any month you delay.

Penalties apply monthly, so if the date is wrong by a few months, you could lose 1- to 2% percentage in benefits. This adds up when you consider that this is your retirement income. You can check your benefit start date on your online account as well.

3. A calculation area in your benefits calculation

The Social Security benefits formula can be complicated. Your average inflation-adjusted wages are calculated and you're given benefits equal to a specific percent of your income.

Different income thresholds, or bend points, determine the specific percentage of your earnings that your benefits replace. That basic calculation gives you your standard benefit, which is increased or decreased based on your age when you apply for benefits.

If mistakes happen, such as the SSA using the wrong birth year to determine which bend points apply, your benefit may be incorrect. Catching these errors is tricky, but if you visit your account to see your benefit estimate, or use online calculators to help you determine how much your benefits should be worth, you can get an idea of whether your payments are correct.

If there's an error, make an appointment with the Social Security Administration to understand how your formula works and ensure any mistakes are corrected.

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4. Garnishment errors

There are certain situations where you could have some of your benefits garnished. What garnishment means is if you have debt, a collector can sue you for the amount you owe. A good example of this is if you owe back child support, you have delinquent student loan debt or if you received benefit overpayments.

In some cases, your benefits could be improperly garnished due to problems ranging from mistaken identity to identity theft or an incorrect calculation of how much should be taken out of your check for your unfilled obligations.

You'll want to review records associated with any garnishment orders and compare them to your Social Security statements to ensure money isn’t taken that rightfully belongs to you.

5. Problems with spousal and survivor benefits

Finally, you could have issues if you're getting the wrong type of benefits. This could arise if you are divorced, or if you are entitled to spousal or survivor benefits that you have already claimed before your spouse dies.

An older Inspector General report found that over 30,000 individuals were missing out on survivor benefits they were entitled to, losing as much as $193.8 million in payments.

Ensure you understand the rules for when you can claim these other types of benefits, as they are available to those who are divorced after a 10-year marriage, and those who are currently married or widow(er)ed.

If you think you are eligible for spousal or survivor benefits, you should consult a financial adviser to ensure your benefit is correct.

Ultimately, the Social Security process is imperfect and since this money is a vital source of income in retirement, it's up to you to make sure these and other errors don't cost you.