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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TiAnna
i have few questions about my death bennifits you can email me that would be great thank you
R.F.
Hi TiAnna. We do not have access to personal information, therefore, we do not do direct messaging in this venue. Click here to get general information about survivors benefits. You can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. You will generally have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media and communicating personal information via email. We hope this helps!
David C.
My son was born premature at 2.2 lbs at 27 weeks and was entitled to social security disability for his medical care while in the NICU. We also received monthly U.S. Treasury checks for about $186 for expenses (I guess) while he was in the NICU, but he has been out of the hospital for several months and we are still getting those checks. How long does this go on?
R.F.
Thank you for contacting us David. Social Security does provide disability benefits under the Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, to certain low birth weight infants, whether or not they are premature. Generally, a review or redetermination is required, 12 months after the birth of the child. SSI is a program based on financial need, and we consider the client’s income, and resources. In your son’s case, we take into account the income of certain family members living in the same household (i.e. parents, stepparents, ineligible children, etc.). Since we do not have access to personal records in this blog, we suggest that you contact your local office as soon as possible. You can also call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Please visit our “Understanding Supplemental Security Income Reporting Responsibilities” web page for more information.
Alexandra
Question: What if you did a couple of jobs for someone for some extra cash and you don’t expect to do this again, do you still have to report it? My son gets SSI and I did someone a favor this past month. Just making sure there are no overpayments.
Alexandra
I believe I answered my own question, I saw this in the section “Understanding SSI”–
Among the income not counted is “small amounts of income received irregularly or infrequently;”
A.C.
Hi, Alexandra. Thank you for your question. For information and examples about how work and income affect one’s SSI benefits, visit our webpage, Understanding Supplemental Security Income- SSI Income. We hope this helps.
ROSS P.
MR. FERNANDEZ…..IN LATE JAN 2016 S.S. MAILED ME A FORM TO FILL OUT. THE FORM WANTED TO KNOW IF THERE WAS ANY CHANGE IN MY SITUATION, THREE CHECKMARKS AND A SIGNATURE AND IT WAS SENT BACK VIA THE ITALIAN POSTAL SERVICE TWO DAYS LATER. ABOUT 30 DAYS LATER S.S. SENT MY WIFE AND I A LETTER SAYING THE FORM WAS NEVER RECEIVED AND THEY CUT OFF OUR BENEFIT CHECKS. I FOUND THE SAME FORM ON THE S.S. SITE FILLED IT OUT PLUS THE FORM FOR REINSTATEMENT AND THIS TIME SENT IT BACK VIA U.P.S. IT WAS RECEIVED AND SIGNED FOR BY S.S.
WHAT A WAY TO TREAT MONEY WE EARNED. SOCIAL SECURITY IS NOT AN ENTITLEMENT. TO DATE WE HAVE HEARD NOTHING. WE TRIED THE 800 NUMBER TO NO AVAIL.
THIS IS JUST A ROTTEN WAY TO TREAT ELDERLY CITIZENS.
dave
hey ray I have a question, I just received a letter of denial cause of overpayment of resources, seems after my father passed away, I accidentally put my name on my moms checking accounts (I didn’t take one cent from the account as the checkbooks are not in my name) I am going to file an appeal for reconsideration tomorrow any advice would be helpful
thank you
dave
R.F.
Hi Dave, you can now submit and request an appeal online and provide documents electronically to support your appeal. We wish we could be more help, but for security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Your local office will be able to assist you better in this situation. For more information and to learn about appeal and waiver rights, read our publication on “Overpayments“.
dave
Ray, how long does it take once I fill out the appeal for reconsideration to actually have the hearing scheduled? hopefully I don’t have to wait too long
thanks again
Dave
R.F.
Hi Dave. A reconsideration is the first level in the appeals process. Typically, the length of time it takes to receive a decision on your reconsideration is about 60 days but the amount of time could vary from case-to-case. We reevaluate all evidence, plus any additional evidence submitted and make a new decision. If you have questions about your reconsideration, please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask to speak with one of our representatives. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
Rene
I was on SS disability for a little over a year back in 2004. It took almost 3 years for my application to be approved. At a certain point in 2006, I stopped cashing the checks and called SS to say I did not want to received SS disability any more, because I was unable to stay under the monthly limit of what I could earn. After some time, I got a letter from SSA saying that I had earned too much in several months while I was getting disability and that I had to pay EVERY DIME back (the amount was over $32,000. I have had phone conversations and filled out forms over and over, and I still am owing that money. For over a year they were garnishing my paychecks at $100 every pay period, but then all of a sudden that was stopped.
For the past two years, my federal tax refunds are going to the Social Security Administration to pay back that money. My son has been disabled for the past two years and has been living with me as his sole supporter. I am on the edge of bankruptcy and they still take that money. He has doctor bills and medications that I have to pay for out of my pocket. Can I call someone to find out if they can let me have my tax refund. I have plenty of documentation to prove that I have been his caretaker.
R.F.
We wish we could be more help Rene, but for security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Your local office will be able to assist you in your request to stop collection or consider a lesser withholding amount from your benefits. For more information and to learn about appeals and waiver rights, read our publication on “Overpayments“. If you still have questions, or need further assistance, you should call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday but you will generally have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week.
Rene
Thank you for responding. Take care.
IRYS
Sorry auto type I meant to say Widows not weirdos
IRYS
My son get Social Security from his deceased father and they give it to me to care for him not widows but for him I recently got married I called Social Security and reported it and went down to the office and change my last name they started it back up a couple months later is that because I have no income or because I don’t get widows but I get it to care for him
R.F.
Hi Irys. A widow who remarries before she reaches age 60 (age 50 if disabled), cannot continue to receive survivor’s benefits. Based on the information you’re providing, it appears that you’re the Representative Payee for your son. Normally, benefits for children stop when children reach age 18 (up to age 19 if attending elementary or secondary school full time), unless they are disabled. Hope this information helps.
IRYS
Yes it does thank you so much!
Nick M.
Good afternoon, Mr. Fernandez. At the request of my mental health counselor, I’ve been attempting to locate the form(s) necessary for her to update my disability file with new information. Unfortunately, I’m having great difficulty in doing so.
I’ve attempted calling Social Security directly for assistance, and the representatives haven’t been very helpful or willing to assist in the matter either. Also, like others have mentioned, the wait time is very long (even during the low-traffic periods). As a result, I’m trying to do as much as I can online, so I don’t have to go to the local office.
While I understand that Social Security is very busy, and I personally understand that the GAO considers the reduction of wasteful spending and fraud a priority, these types of conditions seem counterproductive. You’re asking us to be straight with you, but not providing the means to do so.
I’ll keep trying to find the forms, but it’s heartbreaking. I have the chance to get off of SSI and remain self-dependent, and this is the only step keeping me from achieving the goal.
You can do better than this. Please don’t make us lose faith in your mission, because many of us already have. Thank you.
R.F.
Hi Nick. When we need additional medical information, we generally attempt to obtain the information by contacting the medical source (doctor’ office, clinic, hospital, etc.) directly. Form SSA-827 serves as the official form for obtaining your written consent to release information to SSA. To add new medical evidence or a medical source to your pending claim, you can mail or take the information to your local Social Security office. If you’re receiving benefits under the Supplemental Security Income or SSI, and working, please visit this link to a summary about SSI Work Incentives. Work incentive employment supports disabled and blind SSI beneficiaries go to work by minimizing the risk of losing their SSI or Medicaid benefits. We hope this information helps.
Karen C.
Re: Forwarding address for deceased beneficiary
There is no information on the web site to report a change of address (forwarding address) after the death of a deceased beneficiary. This is so the heir, personal representative or administrator can receive correspondence, and also the 1099-SSA in a timely way. The decedent is not available to make the change of address on the website! The 1099 is mailed to the beneficiary’s address. But — the decedent’s house or apartment may be vacant, sold, etc. The mail forwarding may have expired. So the decedent’s tax return cannot be prepared. This situation needs to be addressed. Thank you.
R.F.
Hi Karen. The confidentiality of tax return information does not end with the death of the subject of the information. Generally, the law restricts the disclosure of tax return information about deceased individuals. In some cases we may disclose SSA-1099 information to a survivor of the deceased, only if we are able to establish the relationship of the survivor to the deceased based on SSA records. All requests for release of this information must be in writing and submitted to the local Social Security office. We hope this information helps