From time to time, articles are printed in newspapers, magazines, and other publications
by insurance companies, business firms or other organizations providing information
about the Social Security Program.
The organizations generally provide reliable information about the program, and may
sometimes include acceptable facsimiles of Form SSA-7004-SM-OP1 or other information
on how to receive a statement of earnings.
Some firms, on the other hand, charge a fee to answer basic questions about the earnings
statement program. They otherwise promote the sale of their publication by using highly
provocative or misleading statements and expressions about the earnings statement
program.
These latter firms undermine the integrity of the Social Security Program. They create
the impression that the reader must obtain earnings statement information from outside
sources, for a fee. Social Security provides this information free of charge.