In a recent update released by the Social Security Administration (SSA) in December 2013, it was announced that some changes will be made to the way the SSA releases information and some of their documents to the public.
The SSA states that starting in February 2014 they will no longer offer benefit verification letters at their field offices. You will be able to obtain a benefit verification letter by creating a personal Social Security account on the SSA’s website. On January 9, 2014, the SSA will release a webinar with instructions on how to request your benefit verification letter online. More information on the webinar and how to sign-up for the webcast can be found on the SSA’s website.
You can also call the SSA’s toll-free telephone number to request a benefit verification letter by mail. The SSA’s toll-free number is (800) 772-1213. The phone hours are Monday through Friday from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm.
The announcement also states that the SSA will no longer provide Social Security number printouts to verify your Social Security Number (SSN). The SSA believes stopping this service will prevent and reduce identity theft and counterfeit use of SSNs. If you need verification of your SSN and do not have your Social Security Card, you will need to have your card replaced. An application to apply for a new Social Security Card can be found on the SSA’s website. Once you have completed the application you can either mail it in or bring to one the SSA’s field offices. To find the field office closest to you click here.
To view the full text of the announcement click here. Other updates can also be found on this page of the SSA’s website.
