A decision notice is just a letter placing an applicant on notice of an award or denial of claimed benefits and it is referred to generally as a social security "decision notice letter." After submitting an application for benefits to the social security administration a claimant will receive an official letter in response denying the claim or awarding benefits. The letter will then explain the decision to deny benefits or to award benefits. If Social Security has decided to award benefits and benefits are payable, the letter will announce the amount of benefits to be paid, when payments will start and the exact amount of monthly payment the claimant can expect to receive.