Understanding Social Security Administration Notices

By: The Greater Wisconsin Agency on Aging Resources Legal Services Team (for reprint)

If you receive Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits you understand how many notices are sent and how confusing they can be. Trying to understand SSA notices can be frustrating. Here is a general guide illustrating the types of notices that SSA sends and why they send them. If you have specific questions about your notice, you should contact your local SSA field office by visiting https://www.ssa.gov/locator/, or reach out to your local Aging and Disability Resource Center (ADRC) by visiting https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/adrc/contacts.htm. 

Notice Content

Let’s look at the basic construction of an SSA notice. There is a heading identifying the SSA program you are being contacted about. For example, it may say “Supplemental Security Income” or “Retirement, Survivors and Disability Insurance.” Then, the notice will state the reason for contacting you or the purpose of the letter. It will inform you of any decision SSA has made and why they made that decision. It can include information about your benefit status, payment amount, and when the payment will be paid. Any actions that you should take will be included. The notice will also explain what your next steps should be if you disagree with the information in the notice. They will also include how to contact SSA if you have questions or how to submit the information they are requesting. The specific content of the notice is tied to the benefit/s you receive and the purpose of the notice. 

Why Does SSA Send Notices

Notices from SSA are sent to notify you of changes to your benefits or eligibility. This means SSA will notify you if your benefits are increasing or decreasing, ending or beginning, or if you have been overpaid. Notices are sent when you appeal or waive an SSA decision. A notice may be sent to inform you of your rights and responsibilities pertaining to your eligibility in a benefit program. If you receive a notice from SSA you should not ignore it. SSA is contacting you to tell you important information about your benefits and you should read them as soon as you can to avoid interruption of your benefits. 

What To Do When You Get a Notice 

1) Read the notice carefully

2) Identify the program they are referring to

a. Usually in the heading found at the top of the notice. 

3) Determine the purpose of the notice

a. Are they contacting you to get more information?

b. Are they informing you of a change to your benefit amount or eligibility? 

c. Are they informing you of a decision of an appeal or waiver? 

4) Identify your rights

a. Do you have a right to appeal the decision or determination? 

b. Do you have a right to submit more information before a decision is made? 

5) Identify your responsibilities

a. Are you required to submit more information, like pay stubs or bank statements? 

6) Identify deadlines

a. Is there a deadline for submitting an appeal? 

b. Is there a deadline for submitting more information? 

Understanding SSA notices can help you avoid interruptions to your benefits. If you receive a notice from SSA you should open it immediately because it will contain deadlines for appeals, waivers, or submission of additional information. Remember if you don’t understand what your notice is about or you have questions reach out to SSA directly or contact your local ADRC for help.