How to Request Your Social Security 1099 Form

Where to request Form SSA-1099

You can request Form SSA-1099 from Social Security in three ways: online through your my Social Security account, by phone, or by mail. The online method is fastest — you can view and read your form when ready if you have an account set up. If you do not have an account yet, you can create one at ssa.gov/myaccount in about 10 minutes using your email, Social Security number, and identity verification.

To request by phone, call Social Security's main line at 1-800-772-1213. You will need your Social Security number and date of birth ready. The phone line is open Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time. If you call after hours, you can leave a message and someone will call you back, though this takes longer than calling during business hours.

To request by mail, send a letter to your local Social Security office asking for Form SSA-1099 for the tax year you need. Include your full name, Social Security number, date of birth, and mailing address. You can find your local office address at ssa.gov/locator. Mail requests typically take two to three weeks to arrive.

Key Takeaways

• The my Social Security online account lets you view and read your Form SSA-1099 when ready without waiting.
• You can call 1-800-772-1213 during business hours (Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Eastern time) to request the form by phone.
• Mailing a written request to your local Social Security office takes two to three weeks but works if you cannot use the phone or online options.
• Social Security sends Form SSA-1099 by January 31 each year if you received benefits during the previous tax year.

When Social Security sends Form SSA-1099 automatically

Social Security mails Form SSA-1099 to you automatically by January 31 if you received Social Security benefits at any point during the previous tax year. You do not need to request it — it arrives in the mail without asking. If you moved during the year, the form may be delayed or sent to an old address, which is why requesting it yourself through my Social Security or by phone is often faster.

If you did not receive your form by early February, check your mail carefully — it may have been delivered to an old address or mixed with other mail. If you still cannot find it after checking, that is when you should contact Social Security to request a replacement copy.

What information you need to have ready

Before you contact Social Security, gather your Social Security number and date of birth. These are the only pieces of information Social Security needs to locate your record and send you the form. If you are requesting the form for a previous year, have that tax year ready as well — for example, if you need your 2023 Form SSA-1099, say "2023" when you call or select it from the dropdown menu online.

If you are requesting the form by mail, also have your current mailing address written down so you can include it in your letter. Social Security will use this address to send the form to you.

How to access Form SSA-1099 through my Social Security

Once you log into your my Social Security account, look for a section labeled "Benefit Verification" or "Tax Information." Click on that section and you should see an option to view or read your Form SSA-1099. The form appears as a PDF file that you can save to your computer, print, or email to your tax preparer.

If you do not see the form in your account, it may not have been generated yet — Social Security typically makes it available starting in late January. If it is already February and you still do not see it, contact Social Security by phone or mail to request it.

Replacing a lost or damaged Form SSA-1099

If you received your Form SSA-1099 in the mail but lost it, damaged it, or threw it away by mistake, you can request a replacement copy using any of the three methods above. Tell Social Security that you need a duplicate or replacement form for the specific tax year. They will send you another copy at no cost.

You do not need to explain what happened to the original form — Social Security routinely sends replacement copies. The process is the same whether you are requesting it for the first time or the tenth time.

What to do if you never received benefits but got a Form SSA-1099

If you received a Form SSA-1099 but you did not receive any Social Security benefits during that tax year, contact Social Security when ready. This usually means there is an error in their records — either the form was sent to the wrong person, or Social Security has a record of benefits being paid to your number that you did not actually receive.

Call 1-800-772-1213 with your Social Security number and explain that you received a 1099 form for benefits you did not get. Social Security can investigate and correct their records. Do not ignore this — if you file your tax return without addressing it, you may owe taxes on income you never actually received.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I get Form SSA-1099 before January 31?

Social Security does not generate the form until late January, so you cannot get it earlier. If you need tax information before then, contact Social Security by phone and ask if they can provide a verbal statement of your benefits for that year. Some tax preparers will file your return based on this verbal information and amend it once the official form arrives.

What if I need Form SSA-1099 for multiple years?

You can request forms for multiple years in a single request. If you are using my Social Security online, you can read each year separately from the dropdown menu. If you are calling or mailing, tell Social Security which years you need and they will send all of them to you.

Do I need Form SSA-1099 if I did not work?

You need Form SSA-1099 only if you received Social Security benefits during the tax year. Social Security benefits are taxable income in some situations, so your tax preparer will need this form to determine whether you owe taxes. Even if you did not work, you still report the benefits on your tax return.

Can my tax preparer request Form SSA-1099 for me?

Your tax preparer can ask you for your my Social Security login information so they can read it themselves, or they can contact Social Security on your behalf if you give them written permission. Some tax preparers have a process for this — ask them before your appointment.