Reporting Changes is Your Responsibility
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: November 6, 2023
If you receive benefits from Social Security, you have a legal obligation to report changes, which could affect your eligibility for disability, retirement, and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. You must report any changes that may affect your benefits immediately, and no later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred.
Changes you need to report range from a change of address to traveling outside the United States for 30 consecutive days. To get a list of reporting responsibilities under disability, please read our publication, What You Need to Know When You get Social Security Disability Benefits, and for SSI, read What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income. If you’re receiving retirement benefits, What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits is also helpful.
Life changes can affect your benefits. You may be due additional payments, or you may be overpaid and have to pay us back because you didn’t report the overpayment in a timely manner. The SSI program may apply a penalty that will reduce your benefits if you fail to report a change, or if you reported the change later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred. If you fail to report changes in a timely way, or if you intentionally make a false statement, we may stop your SSI, disability, and retirement benefits. We may also impose a sanction against your payments. The first sanction is a loss of payments for six months. Subsequent sanctions are for 12 and 24 months.
You can report your change online, or by calling toll free at 1-800-772-1213. If you’re deaf or hearing-impaired call TTY 1-800-325-0778. Mail the information to your local Social Security office or in person if you prefer. If you receive SSI, you should ask about our options to use the automated toll-free SSI Telephone Wage Reporting Service or the free SSA Mobile Wage Reporting app.
If you receive benefits and need to change your address or direct deposit, you can conveniently do so by creating a personal my Social Security account.
Get the right check, in the right amount, at the right time, by reporting changes right away!
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Tags: retirement benefits, SSI, supplemental security income, survivors benefits
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Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
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Tuscia f.
My dad who has been independent till now is going into a nursing home in his city of residence. The house he owns will not be sold as long as he is alive, but he won’t be living at that address. My sister lives out of state and I am abroad. We have arranged with a lawyer for my sister to have durable power of attorney but have not yet obtained a court order to complete the process as up till now, he was able to manage his affairs. But after recent surgery he has suffered cognitive impairment. He receives SS benefits credited to his account, which will not change. We would like to change his mailing address for SS to my sister’s address so that any communications will go directly to her . Is that possible to do simply by making an on line account? Thanks
A.C.
Hi, we are sorry to hear about your father’s medical condition. First, you can only create a my Social Security account using your own personal information and for your own exclusive use. You cannot create or use an account on behalf of another person, even if you have that person’s written permission. Since it sounds like your father will need help managing his Social Security account, your sister may wish to pursue becoming his Representative Payee. This would allow her to manage his Social Security benefits and conduct business with Social Security on his behalf. Please note that having a power of attorney, being an authorized representative, or having a joint bank account with the beneficiary, is not the same as being a payee. Your sister will need to contact the local office for a face-to-face interview. She can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. When appropriate, Social Security also looks for qualified organizations to be representative payees. In this case, the nursing facility may consider applying to be the representative payee for your father. Please consider talking with the nursing facility manager or administrator about this important issue, they will contact us if they have specific questions or to understand the facility’s responsibilities. For more information, please read our publication: A Guide For Representative Payees. Thanks!
Eva
My little sister draws a check from our dad’s social security retirement and her mother is in control of but she has been living with me full time for the last 11 months. My question is can we change her mother from getting the check since she doesn’t have my sister or support her at all?
R.F.
Thank you for contacting us Eva. Generally, we pay the benefits to the family member who is the primary care provider of the child. You may want to apply to be your sister’s new Representative Payee. You will need to contact the local office for a face-to-face interview. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 to make an appointment. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. For more information, please read our publication: A Guide For Representative Payees.
norita b.
I have been trying to change my address for 2 months. I called and walked through yhe chages 2 times. It has been 2 months i was told it would be 15 days. The changes failed to show after my first call. The 2nd rep told me it would be fixed by today. But nothing has changed. All my bills are behind and i am unable to work. Why is this happening
R.F.
We apologize for any inconvenience Norita. If you receive Social Security benefits (retirement, disability, etc.) you can create a my Social Security account and simply change your address online. However, if you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you must report any new change, such as your change of address to the (new) local Social Security office.
Gloria B.
Hi my name is Gloria an I received a letter from y’all today stating that my granddaughter Ana Marie won’t be getting her check for February of 2017 until I provide y’all with the correct address an bank account.
R.F.
Generally, when you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) you are required to contact your local Social Security office directly. If you’re unable to visit the office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Please keep in mind that while we respond to general questions and provide general information on our programs and services, we remind you to never post personal information on social media. Thanks!
Tracy
My daughter receives SSI and I am her representative payee. We have moved to another state and I cannot go to the SS office for my area as it is too far away. How can I go about getting our information updated and her medicaid transferred to the new place?
R.F.
Thank you for contacting us Tracy. Generally, if you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, you are required to report your new address directly to your (new) local office. Please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak to one of our representatives, and explain your situation, they may be able to provide assistance to update your daughter’s information. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. We hope this helps.
Andrea
For the change of address is that if you only recieve SSI or can you also call if you have food stamps
R.F.
Hi Andrea, if you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and need to change your address, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; or you can your local Social Security office directly.
Vincent
If the funeral director reports the death of a person by mailing to SS a copy of the death certificate, is it really necessary for someone else to personally contact the SS office either by phone or in-person to also report the death? As it is extremely difficult to contact the SS office in any manner, we would prefer to avoid that. Thank you.
A.C.
Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by sending the deceased person’s death certificate to their local Social Security office. However, you may also report the death of a Social Security beneficiary by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., or by submitting the death certificate to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps!
Thomas C.
I cannot find any information on the Internet or on the official Social Security site OR on my own online account site as to how one requests a change from taking spousal benefits to my OWN benefits. I have been taking spousal benefits for several years. Now, for February 2017, I want to drop spousal benefits and start my own benefits. I am age 69 in January 2017, and I need the additional income. DO I HAVE TO GO IN PERSON TO A SOCIAL SECURITY OFFICE, OR CAN I CHANGE TO MY OWN BENEFITS ONLINE? As I stated, I do not see anywhere on my account site how I can do this.
A.C.
Hello, Thomas. Thanks for your question. Once you start receiving benefits, you will have to file a claim with one of our offices to switch to other benefits. You can set up a telephone or in office appointment by calling our toll-free number at 1800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday or by contacting your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Rosa C.
I reported to social security that my husband and I have separated and he moved out. He was my income and no longer is, that was 4 months ago. My main question is. Will I get the back pay from when I reported the change?
R.F.
We do not have enough information to answer your question at this time. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and ask one of our representatives to assist you. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Linda
My son has been on SSI for 30 years.He got married(didn’t really) think it was legal.Due to his disorders I knew he could not live with her.He tried and he couldn’t.He keeps his son at times for her to work.She could not live with his Tourette and Misophoina.I did not report the marriage knowing it wasn’t going to last .Now they are divorced.He remained living with me.
R.F.
Hi Linda. Remember that the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) guidelines require that beneficiaries must contact us to report changes such as marriage or living arrangements. If you fail to report changes in a timely way, or if you intentionally make a false statement, we may stop your SSI benefits, or apply a penalty that will reduce your SSI benefits. If you are your son’s representative payee, please contact your local Social Security office to report these changes, or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.