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Knowing Which Benefits You Receive

The first step in avoiding benefit overpayments and underpayments is to verify the amounts and types of benefits that you receive.  Social Security Administration (SSA) and other public program rules about working vary.   It's critical that you know which benefits you receive, so you will know which specific work rules apply to your situation.
 
If you are working with the Minnesota Work Incentives Connection, we may verify your benefits as part of our assistance to you.  If you want to check on your own benefits, you can do so at no cost.  There are two ways to verify your benefits through SSA:

1. Benefits Verification Letter:

  • Call SSA at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) and request a Benefits Verification Letter. You will need your Social Security number and may be able to get at least initial verification verbally.

2. Benefits Planning Query (BPQY):

  • For more complete information about your benefits, call your local SSA office or 1-800-772-1213 and request a Benefits Planning Query (BPQY).
  • The (BPQY) contains information about the type of benefits you receive, the date you became eligible for benefits, along with the current benefit amount you and your family members receive. There is also a section that verifies your Medicare eligibility date.
  • Much of the rest of the BPQY summarizes your work activity as recorded in SSA's electronic records. If your work activity is not up to date with SSA, the information in your BPQY, especially information about the Trial Work Period (TWP), may be incorrect.
  • If any of the information on the BPQY appears to be incorrect based on your information, contact your local Social Security Administration (SSA) office to resolve any discrepancies.
  • If you are a beneficiary interested in getting a BPQY, call your local SSA office or their toll-free number (1-800-772-1213) and ask for one. It will be mailed to the address shown on your SSA records. A signed Consent Form is needed if the BPQY is to be sent to someone other than the beneficiary.
  • For additional information about the BPQY and how to read the information provided there, see the Benefits Planning Query Handbook.

Once you have verified which benefits you receive, contact the MN Work Incentives Connection for information about how working affects your benefits.