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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AJ's d.
Thank you Ray Fernandez. Are we able to receive a letter showing that his was deemed disabled but not eligible for SSI?
AJ's d.
My son was covered under SSI due. He no longer receives SSI due to too many resources. Does that mean that he no longer is disabled under SSA. When need to provide notice to have his COBRA extended.
R.F.
Remember that the Supplemental Security Income or SSI program is a needs based program that gives cash assistance to disabled individuals with limited income and resources. Your disability is based on the severity of your medical condition. However, when non-medical eligibility factors such as income or excess of countable resources do exceed the allowable limits, individuals are not eligible for their SSI monthly payment. If their income or resources change to below the allowable limits, these individuals could regain eligibility. They must contact their local office to request reinstatement. Individuals who are “suspended” for more than 12 consecutive months, because of excess of income and resources, would have to file a new claim. Please contact your local Social Security office or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, for further assistance. Our telephone service representatives, are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
AJ's d.
Thank you Ray Fernandez. Are we able to receive a letter showing that his was deemed disabled but not eligible for SSI?
R.F.
You will need to speak to one of our representatives. Please contact your local Social Security office or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks.
Michelle F.
Hi, I am a benefits specialist and my clients have been being told recently that they need a letter on letterhead from their employer with an end date to get their benefits reinstated. With jobs in fast food or service type jobs, this is often not possible to obtain. Does a final paystub suffice? or is there another option?
R.F.
Thank you for your question Michelle. End of work activity, often requires verification from the employer. A final pay-stub may be acceptable. However, a representative from the local Social Security office makes a final determination about what form of verification is needed to reinstate benefits. See “Spotlight on Reporting Your Earnings to Social Security” for more information.
miracle s.
My mother passed in june 2014 and recieved SSI and i believe i was one of her dependents. I was 14 at the time i am 17 now and will be 18 next year. I was told that once i turn 18 i will be eligible to receive a “back pay” for all the SSI she’s missed. i was wonder whats the truth to this and if there’s any how do i go about doing so. My mother was disabled and i am also i believe she received SSI for me also
R.F.
Hi Miracle! You may be getting our programs confused. Benefits issued through our Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program, are based on the needs of the individual and are only paid to the qualifying person. There are no spouse’s, children’s or survivors benefits payable. In the other hand, benefits paid through our Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, in certain circumstances, are payable to other family members. Usually, children’s benefits stop when children reach age 18 unless they are disabled, or if the child is still a full-time student at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal information, for clarification or to see if you’re eligible for benefits, please contact your local office or call our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Generally you’ll have a shorter wait-time if you call later during the week. We hope this information helps!
james d.
hi
Cathy
I’ve been waiting for for my replacement SSI December check for 3 months. They told it would be 30 days. When I call for status ok get run around. Can I check status on line?
Bobbie
Can I sell my home without it affecting my benefits if I am on SSDI? I am unable to maintain it financially.
A.C.
Hi, Bobbie. You may be getting our disability programs confused. The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program is a needs-based program that pays benefits to disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. SSI benefits also are payable to people 65 and older without disabilities, who meet the financial limits. Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, on the other hand, are based on earnings and are not subject to income and resource limits. If you are receiving SSDI as described, the sale of your home will not affect your benefits. For more information on the difference between Social Security disability and SSI, check out our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps!
Christina Y.
My son gets disability because he has a heart condition. I live with my boyfriend and myself and our son. me and my boyfriend have been having a lot of problems and the question of breaking up has been on the table. My son will go with me to live somewhere else. how will this affect my sons money? will it still go off of my boyfriend’s income? i’m a full time student my only income is financial aid.
R.F.
Thank you for your question Christina. The Supplemental Security Income or SSI is a needs based disability program that pays benefits to people with limited income and resources. We take into consideration any income, resources, and living arrangements available to them when we establish their monthly (SSI) benefit amount. When you report the change to your local Social Security office, they will conduct a “Redetermination”, to make sure that we continue to pay your son, the right amount of SSI benefits. We hope this helps.
JANICE B.
I REPORTED EXTRA INCOME IN AUGUST OF 2015 IT WAS SPENT DOWN INTHE SAME MONTH I NEVER HAD MORE THAN THE ALLOWED RESOURCES, HAD PHONE INTERVIEW IN MAY OF 2016 EVERYTHING WAS FINE NOW FEBURARY OF 2017 RECIEVED LETTER BENEFITS ARE STOPPED DUE TO OVERPAYMENT IN 2015 I NO LONGER HAVE MOST OF RECIEPTS AS I SENT THEM IN IN 2016 VERY CONFUSED WHEN I CALL SS THEY ALSO SAID IT SHOWS I HAD INTERVIEW ABOUT EXTRA INCOME IN 2016 IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM I SHOUD HAVE BEEN NOTIFIED BACK THEN I HAVE FILED FOR AN APPEAL BUT MEAN WHILE BENEFITS HAVE STOPPED SEEMS LIKE I AM BEING PUNISHED FOR WORKER NOT DOING HER JOB CORRECTLY
R.F.
We wish we could be more help Janice, 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 with the overpayment issue.
If you still have questions, or need further assistance, you should call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Thanks!