SSA-1099: what it is, and how to get a copy
By Arthur Teboul, DokuTrak · Published
In short
The SSA-1099 is the Social Security Benefit Statement. The Social Security Administration mails it in January to everyone who received Social Security benefits the year before. It shows the total benefits paid, any amount repaid and the net benefits in box 5. If yours is lost, download a replacement from your my Social Security account online.
What is an SSA-1099?
Form SSA-1099 shows box 3 benefits paid, box 4 benefits repaid, box 5 net benefits for the year and box 6 voluntary federal income tax withheld. It also lists Medicare premiums deducted from your benefits.
Part of your Social Security may be taxable depending on your other income, so your preparer needs the form even if you think nothing is owed.
Who sends it, and when
The Social Security Administration issues it and mails it in January. You do not need to ask for it; it goes to the address SSA has on file.
Where to get an SSA-1099
- The mail, in January, at the address on file with Social Security.
- Your my Social Security account on ssa.gov, which lets you download a replacement.
- The Social Security phone line or a local office, for a replacement by mail.
- Your previous returns, if you need last year’s figures in a hurry.
Wrong files people send instead
- A benefit award letter or a cost-of-living notice instead of the SSA-1099.
- A bank statement showing the deposits, which leaves out Medicare premiums.
- Only one SSA-1099 for a couple when both spouses receive benefits.
- A form for Supplemental Security Income (SSI): SSI is not reported on the SSA-1099.
Questions people ask
How do I get my SSA-1099 online?
Sign in to your my Social Security account on ssa.gov and download the replacement SSA-1099 for the year you need.
When is the SSA-1099 mailed?
Social Security mails it in January for the benefits paid the previous year.
Is the SSA-1099 the same as a 1099-R?
No. The SSA-1099 covers Social Security benefits. Pensions and retirement accounts report on a 1099-R.
Ask once. DokuTrak does the chasing.
- Your client uploads from one link, with no account and no password.
- Reminders go out on a schedule, by default 2, 5, 10 and 14 days after the request, until the file arrives.
- With AI review switched on in your workspace (it is off by default), each upload gets a first pass that flags a file that is not an SSA-1099 or an unreadable or blurry scan. It says so when it is not sure.
- You accept every file or mark it for re-upload, and your client gets the note by email. The AI never accepts a file.