SSA Announces Field Office Service Changes to Award Letters

On Feb. 4, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that, starting Oct. 1, 2014, it will no longer offer benefit verification letters at field offices. This announcement comes at a time when the SSA's budget has been significantly cut over the past three years.

To meet demand, the SSA plans to rely on technological innovations that offer more convenient, cost-effective, and secure options for the public to obtain this service without visiting a local office. According to the SSA, it already provides more than 1.6 billion electronic verifications of Social Security numbers or benefit information to employers, state and local agencies, and other authorized third parties.

If your household members need proof of their Social Security or Supplemental Security Income benefits, you can let them know that they can get a benefit verification letter online instantly through a My Social Security account at www.socialsecurity.gov/myaccount. At the My Social Security site those who receive benefits can easily view, print, or save an official letter that includes proof of their benefit amount and type; Medicare start date and withholding amount; and age.