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Benefit Verification Letters

By March 4, 20213 min read

Social Security’s Benefit Verification Letter serves as proof of your Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), retirement, or Medicare benefits. These letters are also called budget letters, benefits letters, and proof of income letters. When you see any one of those names, know that they all mean the same thing.

Unlike the above, Benefit Verification letters are distinct from Social Security Award Letters. Award Letters are what Social Security sends to individuals to inform them that they have been approved for disability benefits.

Benefit Verification letters include your name, date of birth, type and amounts of benefits received, and other identifying information to prevent fraud or misuse from occurring. You can also use these letters to prove that you have never received benefits, that you have applied for benefits, or that you have received benefits in the past but are not receiving them currently.

These letters are especially important when you apply for a loan, mortgage, housing assistance, energy assistance, or any other program that requires you to prove your income.

If you do not have a benefits letter, you can obtain a copy online through your My Social Security account. If you do not have an account already, go to www.ssa.gov/myaccount/ and select the option to “Sign In or Create an Account.” You will need to provide some personal information so that the website can verify your identity. You will also need to choose a username and password to complete the process.

Once you have established your My Social Security account, navigate to the Benefits and Payments section and select “Get Benefit Verification Letter.” There, you will be able to view, print, or save your official letter immediately. You can also request a letter at your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office or call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) Monday through Friday from 8 AM until 7 PM.

Please note that you are not able to obtain a budget letter online for another person, such as a spouse or child. If, however, the other person is a beneficiary for whom you are an active representative payee, then you will be able to do so.