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Get Your New Standardized Benefit Verification Letter Online

December 3, 2020 • By

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Last 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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About the Author

Grace M. Kim, Deputy Commissioner, Operations

Grace M. Kim, Deputy Commissioner, Operations

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Comments

  1. John

    How can we request your letter, whether calling our National 800 Number?

    • Vonda

      Hi John, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to get a benefit verification letter. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. You also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.

  2. Cathy T.

    I can’t login to my account but I have temporarily password from mail and I need help with it..

    • Vonda

      Hi Cathy, thanks for using our blog. Once you get the temporary password, use it to sign in to your account and reset your password.

  3. Alan L.

    i try to access the “get a benefits verification letter” link from my social security account, but no information is displayed. is there a problem with the system today?

    • Vonda

      Hi Alan, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to get a benefit verification letter. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. If you continue to have difficulties accessing online, you also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.

  4. Donna F.

    I’ve been trying to print a letter stating I’ve been awarded/assigned Representative Payee for my daughter’s benefits and been unable to do this. The bank won’t let me open an account for her benefits without this. I tried using a benefits verification letter which shows my name but they said they need an actual letter showing I’m her Representative Payee.

    This has been going on for months and would really appreciate help getting a letter proving I’m the Representative Payee.

    • Sue

      Hi, Donna. Please call your local Social Security office and request a copy of the letter stating that you have been selected as your daughter’s representative payee. You’ll find the office phone number here. For more information about a payee’s duties and responsibilities, check out our Representative Payee webpage. We hope this helps.

  5. Marsha S.

    I have a student loan. I told them that I was on disability, but they put me on an income driven program. I do not pay anything, but I have to recertify every year to keep from paying.

    • Vonda

      Hi Marsha, thanks for using our blog. If you need proof of your SSDI, check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to get a benefit verification letter. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. You also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.

  6. Elsa M.

    What is the new standardized Benefit verification letter ? What information does it contain? I need it for my elderly housing application that is Hud subsidized in chicopee MA. I called Social Security three times to get a legal verification letter and they send me wrong letter according to Hud property manager (McKinley LLC) I don’t own a printer or computer and don’t want an account online. Need social security info mailed
    To me, so I have it when I need it in my records.

    • Sue

      We’re sorry for your experience. Esa. The new standardized Benefit Verification letter – sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter, or a proof of award letter – may look a little different, but it still contains your name, date of birth, and the benefits received. It also includes other identifiers to prevent misuse and fraud.

      If you are unable to create a my Social Security account, you may use our automated telephone service, which is available 24/7. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a benefit verification. If that doesn’t work for you, you can 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 is helpful.

  7. Maria

    I have been trying for years to get an Award Letter for my husband. I spoke to numerous people and they all told me to apply by mail He was awarded Disability Benefits on 1986. But he needs that letter of award in order to stop and agency that has been collecting some Students Loans payments although the loans were supposed to be cancelled

    • Vonda

      Hi Maria, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to get a benefit verification letter. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. You also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.

  8. Delores D.

    How can I get a award letter for my mother

    • Vonda

      Hi Delores, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how your mother can get a benefit verification letter. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. She also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. She can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.

  9. Jennifer J.

    The BENEFITS VERIFICATION LETTER doesn’t download as a PDF FILE. It downloads as an ACTION FILE. It does NOT OPEN IN ADOBE READER ❗❗❗

    • Vonda

      Hi Jennifer, thanks for using our blog. When you click on “Get a Benefit Verification Letter”, the next option is to Download your Benefit Verification Letter as a .pdf file.

      Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to get a benefit verification letter. You also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.

      • dave e.

        where can I find social security benefits for 2020.

        • Sue

          Hi Dave, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions webpage for details on how to get a benefit verification letter. This letter is sometimes called a budget letter, a benefits letter, a proof of income letter or a proof of award letter. You also may be able to request a benefit verification letter by using our automated telephone service at 1-800-772-1213. You can conduct the automated services 24 hours a day. At the prompt, indicate that you’re requesting a proof of income letter. We hope this helps.

  10. M. D.

    It is my understanding that SSA sends out the CMS-500A Medicare premium bill once a year. Can you tell me when this are sent out? FYI- I have contacted Medicare.gov and they informed me that SSA sends out the 500A form. I also checked online and I cannot find an answer to this question. Thanks

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