The short answer
A benefit verification letter, also called an award letter or proof of income letter, states which benefits you receive and the amount. For Social Security, SSI and Medicare you can get one instantly by signing in to your my Social Security account and choosing the benefit verification letter, which you can view, print or save. You can also call 1-800-772-1213, and Social Security mails a letter to the address on file within 10 business days. You cannot get a letter online for someone else unless you are the active representative payee. Other benefits have their own sources: state agencies provide SNAP, Medicaid, TANF and unemployment letters through online accounts or offices, and the VA provides benefit letters on VA.gov. Social Security does not charge for the letter. Use only official sites, keep a copy and ask the person who requested the letter how recent it must be.
Step 1: Find out exactly which letter is wanted
Ask what the requester needs it to say. A landlord may want proof of monthly income, a lender a statement of the benefit amount and the end date of any payment, a school or program proof that you receive a particular benefit. Ask how recent the letter has to be, since many ask for one issued in the last 30 to 60 days, and whether a copy printed from your account is accepted.
A short question can save a second trip. If the requester names a form, such as a special state form, you may have to get it from them and ask the agency to fill it in.
Step 2: Social Security, SSI and Medicare
The Benefit Verification Letter from Social Security is proof of retirement, survivor, disability and SSI benefits and of Medicare coverage. It can also show that you have applied, or that you do not receive benefits, if that is what you need to prove.
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| How | Speed | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Online, in your my Social Security account | Immediately | Choose your benefit verification letter, then view, print or save it. Creating an account is free and takes a few minutes, using Login.gov or ID.me to verify who you are |
| By phone, 1-800-772-1213 | Mailed within 10 business days | Open weekdays 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. local time. TTY 1-800-325-0778 |
| At a local Social Security office | Sometimes the same day | Make an appointment first if you can |
A letter mailed by Social Security goes to the address on file, so check it first. If you receive SSI and need to change your address, you have to contact Social Security directly. You cannot get a letter online for a spouse or a child unless you are their active representative payee, and a person who cannot use the online account can call or visit. Our guide to representative payees explains that role.
The Social Security Administration does not charge for the letter. A website or caller that asks for a fee to get it, or for your Social Security number in exchange for one, is not the agency. Our guide to benefit scams lists the signs.
If you cannot get into the online account
Social Security asks you to verify your identity through Login.gov or ID.me when you create an account, using a phone and a photo ID. If that does not work, you do not have to give up. Call 1-800-772-1213 and ask for the letter by mail, or visit a local office with identification. If you are helping a parent or relative who has difficulty with technology, remember that you cannot open their account for them, and the letter has to go to the beneficiary or the representative payee.
Step 3: Other benefits
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| Benefit | Where to look | What it shows |
|---|---|---|
| SNAP, Medicaid and TANF | Your state agency's online account, or the local office | An award or eligibility letter with dates and amounts |
| Unemployment | The state unemployment portal | Payment history and, in January, the Form 1099-G |
| Social Security tax form | Your my Social Security account | A replacement Form SSA-1099 for the year |
| Medicare | Your Medicare account, or your benefit verification letter | Proof of coverage and a replacement card |
| Veterans' benefits | VA.gov, or the VA by phone | A benefit summary letter |
| Housing assistance | Your housing authority or landlord | Your rent calculation or a voucher letter |
State agencies use different names for the letter: award letter, notice of action, verification of benefits. If your online account does not list one, ask the caseworker for the most recent notice of your benefit amount and dates, and ask whether it can be mailed or emailed. Keep in mind that a notice of action shows what you were approved for, and a requester may also want a recent payment record.
What a letter can and cannot prove
The letter shows what you receive as of its date. It is not a bank statement, and some requesters want more than one document. A lender may ask for the letter plus bank statements or tax forms, and a landlord may ask for a recent pay record. If you have just applied for a benefit and are waiting, ask for a letter that shows your application is pending, since the agency can issue one, and it may satisfy a requester until the first payment arrives. SSI letters can show a state supplement as well as the federal amount, so check that both appear if you receive both.
Step 4: Check the letter before you send it
Read it against what you receive. The name, benefit type, amount and dates should be correct, and the date on the letter should be recent. If something is wrong, ask the agency to correct it instead of crossing it out, since an altered letter is not accepted and may look like fraud.
Send only what is needed. A letter that includes your full Social Security number should go only to someone who needs it, and you can ask for a version with the number hidden. Our guide to reporting changes explains how to keep your records current, since a letter that does not match what you are paid can create problems later.
Step 5: Keep copies and set a routine
Save a digital copy of every letter and write the date you got it. A folder with your latest Social Security letter, your Form SSA-1099 and your state benefit notices answers most requests in minutes. Order a new letter each year, or when your benefit changes, such as after a cost-of-living adjustment, because an old letter shows an old amount and some requesters will refuse it. If a benefit stops or you move to a new program, ask for a letter that shows the end date too, since it can be proof of a change in income.
A common case is a rental application that asks for proof of income dated within 30 days. Signing in to the my Social Security account, opening the benefit verification letter and saving it as a file takes a few minutes, and a printed copy goes to the leasing office. Adding the date to your records tells you when the letter goes out of date and a new one is needed.
Questions about benefit letters
Is there a fee for a benefit verification letter?
Not from Social Security. The letter is free, online or by phone. A site or person charging for it is not an agency, and you should not pay.
Can someone else request my letter?
Not online. Social Security issues the letter to you, or to a representative payee for a beneficiary. A person who cannot use the online account can call or visit for help.
Can I send a screenshot or a printed copy?
Many requesters accept a printed or downloaded copy of the letter from your account, but some want an original or a particular date. Ask the person who requested it what they will accept before you send it.
What if I do not have an online account and need the letter fast?
Visit a local Social Security office, ideally with an appointment and identification, since a letter can sometimes be issued the same day. Mail takes up to 10 business days.
What each agency decides
Letters are issued by the agency that pays the benefit, and the content, name and timing differ by agency and state. This is general information. If a letter is wrong, ask the issuing agency to correct it.
Official sources
This week
Create or sign in to your my Social Security account, download your benefit verification letter and save it where you can find it. Then ask each state agency you deal with where to find its award letter online.
