You Can Access Many of Our Notices Online
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 12, 2024
In today’s digital world, many people prefer to conduct business online. Due to customer demand, we’re making more notices and other communications available through your personal my Social Security account.
Besides being more convenient, the online, paperless option has other advantages. It is environmentally friendly, faster than U.S. mail, and eliminates lost, delayed, or misplaced notices. Also, it saves money on postage and improves efficiency. Less paper-related work frees up our employees to better serve our customers online, over the phone, and in person.
Later this fall, new my Social Security users and users who have not selected a communications preference will be asked to choose whether they want to receive notices online or in the mail.
You can change your preference at any time using the Preferences link in the Message Center of your personal my Social Security account. At the same time, you can request that we send an email or text alert – or both – to make sure you get important information timely.
If you receive Social Security benefits and have a personal my Social Security account – or you create an account by November 20, 2024 – you will receive your 2025 Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) notice online. That’s before we start mailing COLA notices in December. (Learn more about the 2025 COLA in our blog post.)
Besides the COLA, other common notices available online are:
- A benefit verification for proof that you are (or are not) getting Social Security or SSI.
- Appointment confirmation.
- Medicare Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA)
- Advance Designation of Representative Payee annual reminder.
Your Message Center inbox has links to your online notices in PDF (Portable Document Format) that you can print.
Please note:
- Online notices are available to our customers who are blind or visually impaired and have requested a special notice option.
- People with a Spanish language preference receive online notices in both Spanish and English.
- Customers with representative payees cannot opt out of paper notices.
We’re continuing to make more of our communications available online, including forms, enclosures, brochures, and additional notices. These changes not only benefit our customers, but also help us to reduce our impact on the environment.
Please share this information with your friends, family, colleagues, and clients. And, if you don’t already have a personal my Social Security account, create one today.
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Tags: COLA, my Social Security, online services
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M.A.
Is getting the 1099 electronically and not a paper copy in the mail (when you choose the paper less option) new this year? I just want to know when this started because last year I got one electronically AND a paper copy in the mail.
John
I am in the same situation as yours – Opt out of paper for years and have been getting the 1099 SSA in the mail for years since Opt out of paper- but 2024 I did not get paper in the mail. I thought my 1099 was stolen in the mail. But I got it figured out. For 1099-SSA, starting in 2024, SS has made it available in your message center as ‘Notice’ – meaning if you opt out of paper you will not receive in the mail. That is the difference for 2024. Note – Prior to 2024, the online version of 1099-SSA has always been in your Home Page body- not in Message center. Hope that helps.
M.A.
Where did you get your information? Thanks
M.A.
I asked a question but it’s not showing.
M.A.
If I go paperless, will I still receive a paper copy of my 1099 in the mail? I’m curious because I was paperless last year and I still got a paper copy in the mail.
C.B.
Hi, M.A., thanks for using our blog. If you go paperless, you should not receive any notices in the mail. Besides being more convenient, the online, paperless option has other advantages. It is environmentally friendly, faster than U.S. mail, and eliminates lost, delayed, or misplaced notices. Also, it saves money on postage and improves efficiency. You can change your preference at any time using the Preferences link in the Message Center of your personal my Social Security account. If you still need your SSA-1099/SSA-1042S, our automated services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, by calling 1-800-772-1213. When you hear “How can I help you today?” say “1099″ for a mailed copy. We hope this helps.
M.A.
Why did I get a paper copy last year?
Young J.
Can I visit the Anaheim SSA office without an appointment?
C.B.
Hi, Young Jeon. You’ll need to make an appointment for in-person help. By scheduling appointments, you help us reduce wait times and serve you better. Read How to Get Help from Social Security. We hope this helps.
Mary C.
My husband passed away in January 2024. His social security account has been cancelled so I am unable to access his 1099. We had opted out of paper notifications. I’ve stayed on hold on the phone for over an hour and no answer. I need to have his 1099 to do our taxes. How can I obtain his 2024 1099?
C.B.
We are sorry to hear about your loss, Mary. The SSA-1099 is mailed to the last address in our records and is intended for the spouse or executor of the deceased. If you did not receive the benefit statement, you will need to make an appointment with your local Social Security office to show proof of death and proof of executorship. An SSA-1099 can also be given to someone receiving benefits on the deceased beneficiary’s record such as a spouse, parent, or child of the deceased. For more information, call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask a representative for assistance. We hope this helps.
Michael
My SSN Benefits started in January 2025.
Will I receive a COLA for 2025?
T.Y.
Hi, Michael. The Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) for Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits took effect for SSI beneficiaries in December 2024 for the payment due on January 1st, 2025. Social Security retirement, disability, and other beneficiaries will see the increase on their monthly benefits on their first benefit payment in January 2025. For more information on COLA, check out our webpage Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) Information | SSA. You can also We hope this helps.
Jodee S.
Despite the many warnings on the SSA site regarding security and not sharing SS # etc. and despite asking for paperless notifications from SS as of 2019, I still receive many letters and notifications from SS. Including my 1099 forms. This statement has my full name, address and full social security #. And it appears that my 2024 1099 statement has been lost in the mail with all that sensitive information freely available to whoever’s mailbox it ended up. I have been on hold for over 4 hours trying to reach someone to ask if my 1099 was mailed recently. My husband’s 1099 arrived a few days ago & usually we receive these at the same time. By coincidence that was the day with a lot of misdelivered mail in our mailbox! We received the 1099 statements for 3 of our neighbors (and gave them to them). Despite setting my notices to opting out of paper copies I have continued to receive much correspondence by snail mail. Unreliable service by USPS cannot be trusted for prompt delivery even if mail thieves are not stealing mail on the regular. I would appreciate a call from someone to discuss and advise me if paperless notifications/notices from SS can be done or not. And let me know if my statement was mailed recently or not and is in fact lost.
T.Y.
Hi, Jodee. Thank you for reading our blog. The SSA-1099 is mailed by January 31 each year. If for any reason you do not receive your SSA-1099 in the mail, starting on February 1 each year, you can request a replacement SSA-1099 using your personal my Social Security account. We hope this helps.
John
I too got mail theft and thought I lost the 1099 SSA in the mail for 2024. To answer your question here is what I just learned. 1099-SSA starting 2024 SS has made it available in your message center as ‘Notice’ – meaning if you opt out of paper you will not receive in the mail. I struggle to figure out why I did not get the 1099-SSA as I did last serval years despite OPT out of paper years past. That is the difference for 2024. Hope that helps.
sujata S.
this is really helpful. thanks a lot.
Carol F.
3 hours on hold and no answer for over a week at all times of the day you get a non answer on the fax line. I submitted by mail in Jan 2024 a request for W-4V to withhold taxes from my social security check. Here it is a year later and nothing has been done. So I’m trying again but SS is not available to the public. I can not even get an appointment. Shame on this system. Stinks!
T.Y.
Hello, Carol. Thank you for reading our blog. We apologize for the call wait times you’ve experienced and understand how frustrating that can be. We are working to improve our wait times and appreciate your patience. In the meantime, please complete our Feedback Form, which will give our team a better understanding of how we can improve our processes. We value your opinion and look forward to hearing from you.
sujata S.
Well that seems very helpful! Thanks!!