A Social Security award letter is the notice the Social Security Administration mails after approving your claim for retirement, disability, or survivor benefits, and because it is sent only once, getting a replacement copy means calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or scheduling an appointment at your local office. It is not available to download from your online account.
What Your Award Letter Tells You
The letter sets out the terms of your approved claim. It identifies the type of benefit, states your monthly payment amount before deductions, and gives your entitlement date — the first month you met all the requirements for payment. It also tells you when to expect your first deposit and, if the claim took time to process, the amount of any back pay owed for months between your entitlement date and the approval.
For Social Security Disability Insurance, the entitlement date is not the date your disability began. You must wait five full calendar months from the onset of disability before benefits can start, so entitlement begins in the sixth month.1Social Security Administration. Disability Benefits – You’re Approved SSDI back pay covering the gap between entitlement and approval arrives as a single lump sum, separate from your ongoing monthly payments. Supplemental Security Income back pay is typically paid in installments instead.
Disability recipients will also see a note about when to expect a continuing disability review, the periodic check confirming that the disability still qualifies for benefits.
When It Arrives
SSA sends the letter after your claim is approved. Retirement claims filed on time often produce a letter within a few weeks. Disability claims take longer because the underlying review is longer, and the letter goes out by mail with details about the first scheduled payment. SSDI benefits are paid the month after they are due, so a benefit owed for one month deposits the next.1Social Security Administration. Disability Benefits – You’re Approved
Many SSA notices are also stored in the Message Center of your my Social Security account as downloadable PDFs, and you can opt out of paper for notices available online. To change your setting, sign in, select “My Profile,” then “Notifications and Communications,” and choose the online-only option.2Social Security Administration. Opt Out of Receiving Notices by Mail That Are Available Online Not every notice type is available electronically yet.
How to Get a Copy
Because the award letter is a one-time document, it is not among the self-service items in your online account. You have two ways to request a replacement:
- Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask a representative for a copy. Have your Social Security number, date of birth, and other identifying information ready for verification.3Social Security Administration. Get Benefit Verification Letter
- Visit your local Social Security office in person. You need to schedule an appointment first.4Social Security Administration. Contact Social Security
If the original letter is no longer in SSA’s system, the agency can issue an official letter containing the same key information.
When You Actually Need a Benefit Verification Letter Instead
The award letter is often confused with a different document, and the confusion costs people time. A benefit verification letter is a short proof-of-income statement confirming your benefit type and current monthly payment. When a lender, landlord, or assistance program asks for your “Social Security letter,” this is almost always what they want.3Social Security Administration. Get Benefit Verification Letter
Unlike the award letter, the benefit verification letter is available on demand:
- Online: sign in to my Social Security at ssa.gov and view, save, or download a PDF instantly. Creating an account requires identity verification through Login.gov or ID.me.5Social Security Administration. Get Your Benefit Verification Online With my Social Security
- Phone: call 1-800-772-1213 and say “proof of income” at the prompt to reach the automated system, available 24 hours a day in English and Spanish.3Social Security Administration. Get Benefit Verification Letter
- Mail: request a mailed copy and SSA sends it to the address on file within 10 business days.6Social Security Administration. How Can I Get a Benefit Verification Letter
Confirm your mailing address in SSA’s records before requesting a mailed copy. You can update it in your online account or by phone.
Reach for the award letter itself only when someone specifically needs the original approval details, such as your entitlement date or how your benefit was calculated. For everyday income verification, the benefit verification letter satisfies the request.
If Something in the Letter Looks Wrong
Check the benefit amount, entitlement date, and back pay figure as soon as the letter arrives. If any of it looks incorrect, you have the right to appeal, and you generally have 60 days from the date you receive the notice to file. SSA assumes you received the letter five days after the date printed on it, so the deadline effectively runs 65 days from that printed date.7Social Security Administration. Your Right to Question the Decision Made on Your Claim If the last day is a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
The first step is a Request for Reconsideration. For disability-related disputes, a new examiner at your state’s Disability Determination Services office reviews the case from scratch. For non-disability issues, such as a retirement benefit calculation, an SSA employee handles the review.8Social Security Administration. Request Reconsideration You can start the request online, call 1-800-772-1213, or download Form SSA-561-U2 and submit it by mail or fax. Missing the 60-day window can make the original decision final.
Letting Someone Else Request It for You
If you want an attorney or family member to request your award letter or handle an appeal, you have to formally appoint them by submitting Form SSA-1696, “Appointment of Representative,” to your local Social Security office. An electronic version is available.9Social Security Administration. Claimant’s Appointment of a Representative A representative cannot charge you a fee unless SSA approves it first.