An award letter (also known as an award notice) is what the Social Security Administration (SSA) sends out to inform an individual that a claim for benefits has been approved. Though award letters go out for any type of benefit application, the term is most commonly associated with disability claims.
If you need to replace your original award letter, you can request a copy by calling Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visiting your local SSA office. Local offices fully reopened April 7 after being closed to walk-in traffic for more than two years due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but Social Security recommends calling in advance and scheduling an appointment to avoid long waits.
If a copy is not available, Social Security can provide you with an official letter with the information you need.
Keep in mind
An award letter is not the same thing as a benefit verification letter (also called a proof of award letter, among other things). A benefit verification letter is a statement from Social Security that spells out the benefits you are receiving and can be used as evidence of income — for instance, if you are applying for a loan. Unlike an award letter, a benefit verification letter can be obtained instantly online if you have a My Social Security account.
If you don’t want to wait for your Social Security Statement to be mailed to you, you may sign up to get your Social Security Statement online. You also may be able to estimate your retirement benefit using our online Retirement Estimator.
If you would like to receive your Social Security Statement by mail, please print and complete a "Request For Social Security Statement" (Form SSA-7004) and mail it to the address provided on the form.
You should receive your paper Social Security Statement in the mail in four to six weeks.
If you were unable to create or encountered a problem with your my Social Security account, you may visit a local office or call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) for help.
November 2022
Social Security Benefit Payment Increase in 2023
Approximately 70 million Americans will see an 8.7% increase in their Social Security benefit payments and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments in 2023. On average, Social Security benefit payment will increase by more than $140 per month starting in January.
Federal benefit rates increase when the cost-of-living rises, as measured by the Department of Labor’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W). The CPI-W rises when inflation increases, leading to a higher cost-of-living. This change means prices for goods and services, on average, are higher. The cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) helps to offset these costs.
We will mail COLA notices throughout the month of December to retirement, survivors, and disability beneficiaries, SSI recipients, and representative payees. But if your clients want to know their new benefit payment amount sooner, they can securely obtain their Social Security COLA notice online using the Message Center in their personal my Social Security account. Your clients can access this information in early December, prior to receiving the mailed notice. Benefit amounts will not be available before December. Since your clients will receive the COLA notice online or in the mail, they don’t need to contact us to get their new benefit amount.
Your clients who already have a personal my Social Security account can opt out of receiving a mailed COLA notice and other paper notices that are available online. They can also choose to receive a text or email alert when there is a new message by simply updating Preferences in the Message Center at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. For those who don’t have an account yet, they must create one by November 15, 2022, to receive the 2023 COLA notice online.
“Medicare premiums are going down and Social Security benefits are going up in 2023, which will give seniors more peace of mind and breathing room. This year’s substantial Social Security cost-of-living adjustment is the first time in over a decade that Medicare premiums are not rising and shows that we can provide more support to older Americans who count on the benefits they have earned,” Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi said.
January 2023 marks when other changes will happen based on the increase in the national average wage index. For example, the maximum amount of earnings subject to Social Security payroll tax in 2023 will be higher. The retirement earnings test exempt amount will also change in 2023. Your clients can read our COLA fact sheet at www.ssa.gov/news/press/factsheets/colafacts2023.pdf.
Please encourage your clients to be among the first to know. They can sign up for or log in to their personal my Social Security account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. Your clients can find more information about the 2023 COLA at www.ssa.gov/cola.
Attorney Fee Cap Increase
Acting Commissioner Kilolo Kijakazi recently announced a change to the Attorney Fee Cap—the first in 13 years. The maximum dollar amount limit for fee agreements approved under the Social Security Act will increase from $6,000 to $7,200.
Effective November 30, 2022, we may approve fee agreements up to the new dollar limit, provided that the agreements otherwise meet the statutory requirements.
Please tell your clients that if a fee agreement is not filed, their representative can submit a fee petition after completing work on their claim(s). We’ll review the value of the representative’s services—and let your client know the fee the representative is authorized to charge and collect.
Find more information in our publication, Your Right to Representation, at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10075.pdf.
SSI: 50 Years of Financial Security
We’re celebrating 50 years of the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program.
President Nixon signed the SSI program into law on October 30, 1972. Two years later, in January 1974, the agency began paying SSI benefits to people who meet the eligibility requirements. SSI recipients have limited income and resources, and this monthly payment helps meet basic needs for food, clothing, and shelter.
Fifty years later, SSI remains a lifeline program for millions of people and households. SSI helps children and adults under age 65 who have a disability or are blind and who have income and resources below specific financial limits. People age 65 and older without disabilities–who meet the financial qualifications–may also receive SSI payments.
If you know someone who wants to apply for SSI, it’s best to start the process online. The online process takes about five to ten minutes, and no documentation is required to start. We will need the following basic information about the person applying or the person helping someone to apply:
- The name, date of birth, Social Security number, mailing address, phone number, and email address (optional) of the person who is interested in applying for SSI.
- If helping another person, we need the name, phone number, and email address (optional) of the person helping.
Once you or your client provide this information and answer a few questions, we will schedule an appointment to help them apply for benefits. We will send a confirmation with the appointment date and time by mail and email (if provided). In some cases, we may call to schedule the appointment.
If you or your client are unable to begin the process online, your client may schedule an appointment by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) from 8:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. local time, Monday through Friday. Your client may also contact their local Social Security office. You and your clients can find the phone number for their local office on our website.
Please share this important information with your clients who need it.
my Social Security: It’s Not Just for Retirees
Your clients don’t have to be retired or even close to retirement to benefit from a personal my Social Security account. Calling or visiting a local Social Security office is rarely necessary once they have one. Your clients can do much of their business with us online.
With a personal my Social Security account, clients who do not receive benefits can:
- Request a replacement Social Security card (in most states and the District of Columbia).
- Estimate their future benefits to compare different dates or ages to begin receiving benefits.
- Check the status of their Social Security application when they do decide to apply.
- Get proof they do not receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits.
- Review their work history.
If your clients already receive benefits, they can:
- Request a replacement Social Security card (in most states and the District of Columbia).
- Get a benefit verification or proof of income letter.
- Set up or change their direct deposit (for Social Security beneficiaries only).
- Change their address (for Social Security beneficiaries only).
- Request a replacement Medicare card.
- Get a Social Security 1099 form (SSA-1099).
- Opt out of receiving certain notices by mail and receive them in the secure Message Center.
Please help us spread the word. Let your clients know that they can create a personal my Social Security account today at www.ssa.gov/myaccount.
Social Security is Thankful for the Opportunity to Serve You
Thanksgiving is a time to reflect on our blessings and share memories with loved ones. We are thankful that we can help your clients learn about and access Social Security programs to assist them with life’s journey. Our services, benefits, tools, and information can help.
We are more than a retirement program. Our services help many families across this country. We are there for joyous moments like the birth of a child and issuing their first Social Security card. We are also there during times of hardship and tragedy, to provide disability, spouses, and survivors benefits. And we’re there to help your clients celebrate retirement, too.
We are available to serve your clients online, by phone, and in person in our local offices. Learn more at //blog.ssa.gov/we-remain-committed-to-serving-you/.
Please share this information with your clients and others you care about who need help.
Veteran and Active Military Members: Social Security is Here for You!
Social Security provides resources and benefits that support veterans and active military members. Our Wounded Warriors webpage at www.ssa.gov/woundedwarriors answers many commonly asked questions about Social Security and disability benefits.
You and your clients can learn how Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits are different from Department of Veterans Affairs benefits, which require a separate application. This information is available at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-64-125.pdf. We also explain how we expedite the processing of SSDI claims for people who developed a disability while on active military service on or after October 1, 2001. We quickly process these claims regardless of where the disability occurs.
Active-duty military service members may continue to receive pay while in a hospital or on medical leave. They should consider applying for SSDI benefits if they’re unable to work due to a disabling condition. Active-duty status and receipt of military pay don’t necessarily prevent payment of SSDI.
We honor veterans and active-duty military members every day by giving them the respect they deserve. Please let our heroes know they can count on Social Security when they need us most. They’ve earned these benefits! Our webpages are easy to share on social media and by email. We encourage you to check out our updated Information for Military and Veterans page at www.ssa.gov/people/veterans/index.html.
Please pass this information along to someone who may need it.