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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Nancy M.
when do I get my benefits back ? Was told as soon as it went in the system. This was almost a week ago and I have NO money as this is my only sizeable income, bills are not getting paid and can not buy any groceries. PLEASE HELP
R.F.
Hello Nancy, we apologize for this inconvenience. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal records via this blog. Please continue working with your local office and know you can request to speak with the office manager to see how we can help to expedite resolution of your situation. If you are unable to visit your local servicing office, you may call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.
Maria L.
How to reestart checks that had been stopped. On retirement benefits.
R.F.
Hi Maria. Unfortunately, your question is a bit more complex than we can handle in this forum. For your security, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue. Please contact your local office 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. and ask one of our agents to assist you. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks!
Ronica H.
Can my Ssdi be effected for not reporting being married after 10days
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Ronica. For a person receiving Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, marriage does not affect his or her benefit. These benefits are based on earnings and are not subject to income and resource limits. For a person receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), getting married may affect his or her benefit. This is because the amount of the SSI benefit is based, in part, on the income available to him or her and the spouse. See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for more information.
Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, to provide your marriage information. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week.
Jodi i.
Jodi Ann Inch 6630 Timbercove lane 1b
New port Richey FL 34653
My phone number is 813-860-2202
Please call me in the 8am to 230 pm . Est . I received a letter stating I am not elediable but this letter stated I could get Medicaid as I have no insurance,and I do have chronic diabetic 33 yrs insulin dependant Novalog 3x daily glipizide,and oprmorizle 2 x day . my A1c is very high with blood sugars so I
am not eating foods that are too sweet but it’s matabalizing in high surgars ,l don’t have any money for meds no insurance and selling my home bc I am confused from an assault on 3/19/17 visiting my family can’t be alone have tried to find a job but it’s difficult as I’m confused when I am trying to find a job yet Thanksgiving to Christmas I hope to sell home Dec 28,2018.
I do need medical and my assault was not my fault I was beaten in my car for 3 hours .
I have tried to get a job here but I don’t have a car it’s in FL .. anxiety ,head injury yet SSD is thinking I’m normal I did take care of my mom n dad 14 yes to assist a mother who had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s 2000- 2011 & dad had COPD,dementia,diabetes and I lost 2 brothers 33+4yr died early
My dad had COPD crones disease,heart disease they helped me by buying a home to keep them at home . So now I have worked over the yrs and was a dental assistant in NY NC,SC,Az,Calif my husband and I divorced in 2000. I was caring for my 24 yr retarded nephew since my brother died in 1980 I was 19 single took the 4 children East Islip NY in their home the mom was a drunk so yes I did work but life happens . But I’m just trying to get home and start working ,have been looking for a job but I don’t have a car here .. l came up here bc I didn’t work for 11 mos and I have gone to doctors and trying to get a Nuerologist too expensive no doctor will help so lm safe here with family. Will be back in January and I will try to find a job Til Dec 2017 . Have tried but 2 days I cut my hand in a subway shop in early November 2
Jodi inch please contact me as I don’t understand and need to talk . The letter SSD sent was not thinking about my health please do call .. asap can’t wait on line for 1 hour good bless I have been seen by Dr.Jeff Merrin thru Tallahassee FL in Oct last yr at Pasco county stated I have a 8 the grade mind I was beaten by my grandmother and my mother was a beater for most of my life .l have worked but caring for 4 children my brother’s kids for 13 yes and then took care of lynore Young for 3 yrs as a Nanny and 5 other family’s over 12 yrs .. Jodi inch
John R.
I am trying to report a change in my marital status. Your local office is closed for tomorrow’s holiday. This article says I can report it at a telephone number, a number which tells me to call back when agents are working.
My new spouse thinks that this is our deadline date for reporting the change. I shall continue exploring the website, and write a letter to local office mailed today. I hate to miss arbitrary deadlines.
‘Twould be nice off required reports were easier to make.
cheryle F.
I have been trying to change my deceased mothers address sine 09/26/17 with no luck. I have tried calling s.s. phone, no luck, called medicare no luck. She passed 09/23/17′ and we are not receiving her info due to wrong address? Help
J.Y.
Thanks for your question. We’re sorry to hear about your loss. Unfortunately, we cannot change the address on a terminated record. The benefit statement is mailed to the last address in our records and is intended for the spouse or executor of the deceased. If you do not have access to the mail at that address, the executor will need to go into the local field office with proof of death and proof of executorship. An SSA-1099 can also be given to someone receiving benefits on the deceased beneficiary’s record such as a spouse, parent, or child of the deceased. We hope this helps.
Lisle E.
my wife recently passed away from cancer, do I need to report anything to the social security office
J.Y.
We’re sorry to hear about your loss. 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 a death yourself by submitting the death certificate to your local Social Security office in person. You may be eligible for a lump-sum death benefit of $255 (a one-time payment) or monthly survivors benefits on your wife’s Social Security record. For more information, please read our publication, “How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies.”
Lisle E.
my wife recently passes away from cancer. Do I need to report anything to social security office
Lisle E.
My wife recently passed away from cancer. Do I need to report anything to social security office regarding her death ?
suzette r.
my husband died on September 3rd when can I
expect my widows benefits?
R.F.
We are sorry to hear about your loss, Suzette. If your husband worked long enough to be insured under Social Security, you may be eligible for widow’s benefits. Survivor’s benefits are not established automatically. If you haven’t already, you should call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 to report the death and to apply for benefits. If you already applied for benefits, please contact the office that took your claim directly. If you’re not able to visit the local office, you can call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and ask one of our agents to assist you. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Please read our publication How Social Security Can Help You When a Family Member Dies for more information.