Get Your New Standardized Benefit Verification Letter Online
Reading Time: 1 MinuteLast Updated: November 2, 2023
If you receive a Benefit Verification letter, sometimes called a “budget letter,” a “benefits letter,” a “proof of income letter,” or a “proof of award letter,” we have good news for you! A new standardized Benefit Verification letter is now available when you need proof of Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income, or Medicare.
In addition to name, date of birth, and the benefits received, the new Benefit Verification letter includes other identifiers to prevent misuse and fraud. This is an added benefit to you as proof of income for loans, housing assistance, mortgage, and other verification purposes.
The same standardized letter is also available if you need proof that you do not receive benefits, or proof that benefits are pending. If you are an individual representative payee, you can use the my Social Security Representative Payee portal to access the same standardized Benefit Verification letter online for your beneficiaries.
This new standardized Benefit Verification letter is another example of our commitment to improve our service to you.
No matter how you request your letter, whether calling our National 800 Number, your local office, the Interactive Voice Response system, or online with your personal my Social Security account, the Benefit Verification letter now contains a seamless look.
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Tags: benefit verification letter, my Social Security, my Social Security account
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Grace M. Kim, Deputy Commissioner, Operations
Grace M. Kim, Deputy Commissioner, Operations
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Juanita M.
I applied for retirement benefits on November 5, 2020 and still have not had a response regarding the amount of my monthly benefit. When I checked the status of my claim, it showed that it is “processing”. How long does it take to get a response regarding the amount of my monthly benefit?
Vonda
Hi Juanita, thanks for using our blog. Please call your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Leah M.
What types of things could I use to determine if a benefits letter provided as proof of income is legitimate? Should it contain SSA letterhead?
Vonda
Hi Leah, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. Now, in addition to name, date of birth, and the benefits received, the Benefit Verification letter includes other identifiers, like a barcode and agency logo, to prevent misuse and fraud. We hope this helps!
Jeffrey W.
Is it possible to obtain a current years (2021) “benefits verification” letter in spanish rather than in english?
Sue
Although the benefit verification letter is not available in Spanish, we do offer information in Spanish at http://www.segurosocial.gov as well as other languages at our Multi-Language Gateway. We also provide free interpreter services to help individuals conduct business with us in languages other than English. We hope this is helpful.
Richard B.
Hi I’ve tried every wich way I can to capture my I’d but it’s not working
Vonda
Hi Richard, thanks for using our blog. Sorry to hear you are having difficulties creating a my Social Security account. For assistance with your account, you may call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
A.Duckett
Thank you for your empathic pro – fessional behaviorism. In dealing with. My case and personal livilyhood! My elderly golden end of my youthful years now behind me or us!!! Thank God for the Unity and sensitiveness in dealing with average Americans like me. Who was’nt so normal after all.
Jerome E.
How do I find out the status of my IRMMA application (SSA-44) that i filed on 12/05/20?
Vonda
Hi Jerome, thanks for using our blog. Please call your local Social Security office. Look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Kimberley H.
Is there a form on my Social Security for reporting non wage income such as Unemployment?
Also, is the Pandemic Unemployment amount counted the same as regular Unemployment for SSI?
It would seem unlikely to me that the intent of Congress would be to cause people to lose benefits they otherwise qualify for by counting pandemic relief against us. Social Security did not count the $1,200 Stimulus checks, so it would make sense to me that they should also exempt the Pandemic Unemployment boost.
Vonda
Hi Kimberley, thanks for using our blog. Unemployment benefits do not affect or reduce Social Security retirement and disability benefits. State unemployment compensation payments are not wages because they are paid due to unemployment rather than employment. However, income from Social Security may reduce your unemployment compensation. Contact your state unemployment office for information on how your state applies the reduction.
If you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), unemployment insurance benefits are considered unearned income. If you, your spouse, or a child living in your household have any income other than your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment, including unemployment insurance benefits, you must tell us.
To learn more about SSI and how income affects your payment, read What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
To report your income, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Josephine Y.
I will be losing my job in February 2021. How do I request an adjustment to my IRMMA premium?
Thank you
Vonda
Hi Josephine, thanks for using our blog. To report a Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount Life-Changing Event, complete and return form SSA-44 to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Sandra A.
I received a letter from Ssi disability stating I was overpaid $2,000. Once a year, if I even got a small cost of living, I always got a letter from them. Now they say it’s my fault and I have to pay it back. I pay bills and contribute to non-bills as needed. How can this be my fault and I’m being made to pay this back? I need help.
Vonda
Sandra, thank you for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to your overpayment information in this venue. Our Overpayments factsheet offers information on options for repaying as well as appeal and waiver rights. For further assistance, call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Doreen D.
a friend 0f mine received a check from the government for $600.00. I did not. is there a reason I did not receive one?
doreen fischer
Vonda
Hi Doreen, thanks for using our blog. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not Social Security, issues the Economic Income Payments. Social Security cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation. Check out our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for more details. We hope this helps.
Elijah A.
I want to know if my account is closed and they send my stimulus check to it will they mail me a paper check?
Vonda
Hi Elijah, thanks for using our blog. The Internal Revenue Service (IRS), not Social Security, issues the Economic Income Payments. Social Security cannot answer EIP questions about your specific situation. Check out our Social Security and Coronavirus web page for more details. We hope this helps.
Ellawayne T.
i need a copy of my 2018 benefit letter…how do i request that? going to my ssa gives the current year letter no place to say 2018??
Vonda
Hi Ellawayne, thanks for using our blog. For a 2018 SSA-1099, you will need to call your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Barbara M.
Sosy
Carol H.
I need benefit letter to refinance. How do I expedite this request. Please
eric s.
Is a SSA-1099 the same as an Award Letter?
Sue
Hi, Eric. Thanks for using our blog to ask your question. The SSA-1099 and an award letter are different. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information about the proof of award letter, also called a budget letter, a benefits letter, or a proof of income letter.
The SSA-1099 is mailed each January to people who receive benefits. It tells you how much Social Security income to report to the IRS on your tax return. A replacement SSA-1099 for 2020 will be available after February 1, 2021. At that time, you can instantly download a printable copy of the tax form by logging into or creating a free my Social Security account. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for additional information.