By ELIZABETH PIVONKA
Tax season is here, and replacing your annual Benefit Statement has never been easier. The Benefit Statement, also known as the SSA-1099 or the SSA-1042S, is a tax form we mail each year in January to people who receive Social Security benefits. It shows the total amount of benefits you received in the previous year so you know how much Social Security income to report to the Internal Revenue Service on your tax return.
If you live in the United States and you need a replacement form SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S, simply go online and get an instant, printable replacement form using your personal my Social Security account at www.ssa.gov/myaccount. A replacement SSA-1099 or SSA-1042S is available for the previous tax year after February 1.
If you don’t have access to a printer, you can save the document to your computer or email it to yourself. If you don’t have a My Social Security account, creating one is very easy to do and usually takes less than 10 minutes.
With a personal My Social Security account, you can do much of your business with us online. If you receive benefits or have Medicare, your personal my Social Security account is also the best way to:
- Request a replacement Social Security number card (in most states and the District of Columbia).
- Get your benefit verification letter.
- Check your benefit and payment information.
- Change your address and phone number.
- Change your direct deposit information.
- Request a replacement Medicare card.
- Report your wages if you work and receive Social Security disability insurance or Supplemental Security Income benefits.
If you’re a non-citizen who lives outside of the United States and you received or repaid Social Security benefits last year, we will send you form SSA-1042S in the mail. The forms SSA-1099 and SSA-1042S are not available for people who receive Supplemental Security Income benefits.
Visit www.ssa.gov to find more about our online services.
The author is with the Social Security Administration in Albany.
