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
Comments
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Rusti G.
Report of job change. My last with EasterSeals was 11/17/2017. I am now a Independent Provider I started 11/20/2017. Pay rate is $4.90 per unit.
Rusti G.
How do I report this online?
R.F.
Hello Rusti, please visit “Reporting Wages Online” for information. Thanks!
Roger P.
How do I get a change address. Need a form to fill out. Did this in the past. I am now living in Medellin, Colombia.
Can I download a form then mail it to the states?Please advise.
Roger P. Bienvenu
Roger P.
What form do I need to fill out for changing my address. I have been living outside the USA for some time. How can I download one. Have recently move to Medellin, Colombia.
I have done this several times in the past. Please help.
Roger P Bienvenu
Ronald R.
My wife received her Social Security statement of a COLA increase by mail four days ago, but I have not received mine. Our postal service is not the best service around and I’ve been wondering if maybe my notice was delayed by social security or if my statement miss delivered. Should I be concerned? Also, after I started receiving social security, I was working part time for a safety council. They did take social security out of my wages and I never made more than I was allowed under the benefit requirements. Does my social security benefits need to be adjusted because of the social security amounts collected from my part time wages? Thank you for your advice.
R.F.
Thank you for contacting us, Ronald. Generally, if you continue to work while receiving retirement benefits, your monthly benefit amount may increase. Each year, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients to see if additional earnings may increase monthly benefits. To learn more read our publication “How Work Affects Your Benefits”.
Also, the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) notices for 2018 are expected to be mailed throughout the month of December, so please continue to look out for it in the mail. Thanks!
mark m.
what does someone need to do if someone in the family that is collecting SSI has passed away?
Elena K.
My bank has been changed. I called your office in November and gave your representative all the information about the bank where my retirement pension should come. I was told that all information was accepted and I will start receiving my pension in the other bank starting December 2017.
Please confirm that it has been changed. Usually I receive my pension by 4th of each month. I still did not receive it.
R.F.
Hi Elena. Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 and speak with one of our agents. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Remember, you can manage your Social Security benefits with a personal my Social Security account, including establishing or making changes to your direct deposit information. We hope this helps!
omar s.
hi i like to know whay my social security check was stopped… please advice
R.F.
For security reasons, we do not have access to personal records via this blog. Please contact your local Social Security office. If you are unable to visit your local servicing office, you may call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, 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. Thanks!
Merri J.
I have legally restored my maiden name. Will this delay recipient of my benefits?
L. K.
If my husband passed away and how would I change my SS benefits. What form do I need to completed?
R.F.
See our Survivors Planner: “How You Apply” for information on this topic. Thanks!
marilyn r.
i am getting married on dec 2 2017
R.F.
Congratulations, Marilyn! See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for information on this topic.