TN 7 (02-24)

NL 01201.001 Online Notices

my Social Security account users can view online notices and choose to stop receiving paper versions of some notices.

This section explains:

  • how to view online notices and receive notifications about new online notices and messages;

  • how to update communication preferences and stop receiving paper versions of notices;

  • what happens to special notice options notices for people with blindness or visual impairments when a user chooses not to receive paper versions of online notices; and

  • what happens to notice communication preferences when the user's my Social Security account is deactivated or blocked.

A. Viewing online notices and receiving notifications

Online notices are available in my Social Security through the Message Center.

1. Available online notices

The online version of a notice contains the same language as the paper version; however, the format could be different.

List of my Social Security Available Online Notices.

2. How to view online notices

Users can receive online notices in their my Social Security account by accessing the Message Center in-box that will have hyperlinks to online notices. Online notices are in the Portable Document Format (PDF).

Users with a Spanish language preference receive Spanish and English versions of online notices.

3. How to receive notifications

The user can choose from three options for how to receive notifications when a new notice or message is available.

  • Email only

  • Text message only

  • Both text message and email

We use the email address and phone number (for text messages) from the user's my Social Security account. To use a different email address or phone number, users can update their my Social Security account information.

Courtesy notifications do not contain personally identifiable information because they are not secure methods of communication.

If a user is not sure that a notification is from Social Security, advise them to log into their my Social Security account directly from our website at www.ssa.gov instead of responding to the notification or accessing links or files in the notification.

B. Communication preferences

A Message Center feature called “Preferences” provides users the option to stop receiving paper versions of notices that are available online. Message Center will present this option for the first-time users log on. If a user selects the option to stop receiving paper notices, they do not need to select it again when more notices are available online. Users can change their preferences back to mailed paper notices at any time.

1. How to update notice communication preferences

There are two notice communication preferences.

Do not send a paper copy - For notices that are available online, users receive notices only through their Message Center in-box and will not receive paper notices in the mail. If opting out of paper notices, the user must select a courtesy notification option (email, text, or both).

Send a paper and an online copy - Users will continue to receive paper notices through the mail. If a notice is available online, that notice will also be in the Message Center.

To update notice communication preferences in the Message Center, users complete the following steps.

  • Navigate to the Preferences section

  • Select "Update Preferences"

  • Select a communication preference: "Do not send a paper copy" or "Send a paper and an online copy"

  • If selected "Do not send a paper copy," read and agree with the authorization to stop receiving paper mailings for notices available online.

2. Exceptions to communication preferences

These are exceptions to the communication preferences.

Social Security Statement - my Social Security account users who choose to receive paper notices can only access their Social Security Statement online. We send a paper statement only to workers aged 60 and over who do not receive benefits; and do not have a my Social Security account.

Users with representative payees- Users with representative payees cannot opt out of paper notices.

C. Online notices for people with special notice options

For users who are blind or visually impaired with special notice options, online notices comply with section 508 accessibility requirements.

When users with SNO select “Do not send a paper copy” under Preferences, they will not receive a SNO format of any online notice.

D. Deactivated and blocked my Social Security accounts

This section explains what happens with a user's communication preference if the user’s my Social Security account is deactivated or blocked.

1. Deactivated accounts

When a user deactivates their my Social Security account, Social Security removes the online notice preference, and sends future paper notices through USPS mail. If the user has a previously selected SNO format, they will return to receiving their notice in their preferred SNO format.

When a my Social Security account is reactivated, the user can reselect to opt out of receiving paper notices, and will have access to online notices since the reactivation.

2. Blocked accounts

When a user’s my Social Security account is blocked, Social Security removes the online notice preference, and sends future paper notices through USPS mail.

When the account is unblocked, the user can update preferences again to stop receiving paper versions of online notices.

E. References

  • ApPages - Customer Engagement Tools (CET) - Message Center (MC)

  • NL 01001.010 - Special Notice Options Policy for the Blind or Visually Impaired


To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0901201001
NL 01201.001 - Online Notices - 02/15/2024
Batch run: 02/15/2024
Rev:02/15/2024