A benefit verification letter, or “budget letter,” “benefits letter,” “proof of income letter,” or “proof of award letter,” is a very useful letter from the Social Security Administration (SSA). The official letter is verification of your Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), or Medicare coverage. It’s a convenient letter when you have to confirm your income or benefits for several purposes, like getting loans, housing benefits, or government benefits.
What is a benefit verification letter?
A benefit verification letter is a formal letter that gives extensive details of your Social Security benefits. It usually contains:
- The benefit amount and type
- Your payment frequency
- Any withholding or taxes on your benefits
- Evidence of Medicare coverage (as needed)
This letter may also be employed to confirm that you have applied for benefits, never received benefits, or are not getting benefits.
Applications of a benefit verification letter
Benefit verification letters serve various applications:
- Evidence of income: During the application process for loans, mortgages, or rent agreements, you may need to demonstrate your income.
- Government benefits: Different government programs require evidence of your benefits or income in order to determine eligibility.
- Medicare confirmation: You can use the letter as a confirmation of your Medicare coverage.
- Disability verification: In case you are a Social Security disability beneficiary, the letter may verify your status.
How to obtain a benefit verification letter
You have a few different ways in which you can get your benefit verification letter:
1. Online through my Social Security Account
The simplest and quickest method is through your own personal my Social Security account:
- Log in to your account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
- Select “Replacement Documents” on your screen’s right-hand side.
- Select “Get a Benefit Verification Letter.”
- Personalize your letter to include what you require.
- Select “Apply to Letter” when complete.
- Print or save a copy of your letter.
You may open an account on the SSA website if you do not already have one. You will require a valid email address, Social Security number, and U.S. mailing address.
2. By phone
If you prefer not to use the online option or need assistance, call the SSA:
- Phone 1-800-772-1213 (Deaf or hard of hearing: 1-800-325-0778 TTY)
- Phone between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
3. In person at a local SSA office
You can visit your local Social Security office and request a benefit verification letter. It is recommended that you call ahead and schedule an appointment to avoid waiting in line for a long time.
Key considerations
- Online direct access: Once submitted online, you can view, print, and save your letter at once.
- Letters by mailing: If you call or come into the office in person, we will mail your letter to the current address in our system within 10 business days.
- Accessing on someone’s behalf: You cannot access a benefit verification letter online on behalf of someone else, such as a spouse or child, unless you are that person’s current representative payee.
- Standardization of letter: As of November 2023, the SSA has released a new standardized Benefit Verification letter to avoid fraud and misuse.
It is easy to get a benefit verification letter from the Social Security Administration, courtesy of the advantage of online facilities. In loan applications, housing benefits, or other official purposes, it is easy to acquire this critical document through your my Social Security account, over the phone, or personally from your local SSA office.
Be sure to make changes to your personal records with the SSA so that any verification letter of benefits you need to provide will be the most up-to-date and current. Having this information about how to get such a letter will make you all the more ready when you do need to provide proof of your Social Security income or benefits.
