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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Connie M.
Want to look about my ssi check and. Back pay
mary r.
In the state of Ga, how far in advance should I apply for SS before I turn 62.
R.F.
Hi Mary. The earliest age you can apply for retirement benefits is 62. Our system is set up to take applications three months in advance. When you are ready, you can complete the online application for your Social Security retirement benefits in as little as 15 minutes. Also, you can create a My Social Security account to review your earnings record and get an estimate of your future benefits. If you have specific questions, you can call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) for assistance. Representatives are available between 7a.m. and 7p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week.
Jerry H.
On your impersonal voice recording when we live people call you, could you at least state what TIME ZONE you are in and not just 7AM to 7PM! We are not mind readers. thank you
lashanna M.
I’ve been waiting almost a year to go before the administrative law judge, I’m wondering how long does this process to receive a date for my hearing. I found a lawyer and everything is ready for my hearing.
R.F.
Thanks for your comment, Lashanna. The length of time it takes to get a hearing can vary from state to state. We attempt to resolve all claims promptly, but there may be delays due to the volume of pending appeals in your area. The good news is that we are trying to conduct many of our hearings through video teleconferencing (VTC) to speed up the process. Visit our “Hearing And Appeals” web page for more information, and continue working with your attorney and local hearing office on specific questions about your case. Thanks !
eliedith
the reason you are not getting a COLA increase is not because of low oil prices, it is because the republicans do not want to spend the money. its being fought through petitions
Collee H.
How can everything be going up like food , and the national cost of living and no one understands that the Seniors are already in the RED….are they just stubborn? Since our earned monies were spent for other things by the Government, they need to pay us back. Anything else is like stealing it from us!!
Thomas C.
So another year without a COLA increase because of low oil prices while everything else is going up, including the Medicare premiums. Can someone explain how increasing the Medicare premiums is NOT going to effect the amount in benefits received ???
Joseph A.
Thank you for your very informative blog. What I need to know is how to access my wife’s social security account online for her.I did register for both of us and used japietro66@ gmail.com . I know how to access my account , but need to know how to acces her account for her.When I try to access her information for her It won’t let me create a new account for her.We both use this computer .
R.F.
Thank you for using our online services, Joseph. Please remember that 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. You can never share the use of your account with anyone else under any circumstances. Unauthorized use of this service is a misrepresentation of your identity to the federal government and could subject you to criminal or civil penalties, or both. Your wife should call 1-800-772-1213 for assistance. After she hears “Briefly tell me why you are calling,” she should say “Help Desk” for help with a my Social Security account. If she needs additional assistance, it might be best for her to visit the local Social Security office for further assistance.
Jeffrey G.
I am and have been receiving Social Security Disability almost 15 years and ingagag with intention to Marry
My bride to be is currently receiving State Suppliment Disability. Question is will she or me receive any changes with our income after we marry?
R.F.
Thank you for your question, Jeffrey. If you get Social Security disability benefits and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. However, if someone gets disability benefits under the Supplemental Security Income or SSI program, getting married may affect their benefits. The amount of SSI benefits is based, in part, on the income and resources available to the individual. This includes income and resources available from his or her spouse.
CWIC
When talking about marriage between beneficiaries, be careful about using the term Social Security Disability – there are several types of disability benefits and some can be affected by marriage – Childhood Disability Benefits (also known as Disabled Adult Child) and Disabled Widows Benefits can be stopped by getting married. As mentioned in this post, SSI benefits can be reduced or ended by marrying. If you are seriously considering marriage, check with your local Social Security office before jumping into a marriage situation. Remember that marriage can also affect Medicaid eligibility.
Michelle
Is the person receiving ssi benefits affected if he/she does not live with their spouse? What proof do you need to show that your spouse does not live with you? Also what happens if you report being married to ssa but they have no record of it?
R.F.
Thanks for your question, Michelle. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, marriage may affect your benefit. Also, there are times when SSI benefit determinations are affected by a persons living arrangement. See what changes you must report and how they may affect your eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and your benefit amount, by visiting our web page: “Understanding Supplemental Security Income”. For further assistance, please contact your local office or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213.
Carol E.
I started receiving SS benefits in September of 2013 I believe. We have a lovely SS office right in Waterville, Maine with exceptional people. My question is why is my account handled by New York or Pennsilvania, why do they take months and months if not years to answer questions or make a determination, and last but not least make statements or decisions that I haven’t got a clue how they arrived at that particular conclusion. They say married couples can earn up to so much money before we are penalized then they say we over paid you this amount which I paid back, then I’m told I was under paid, then I’m told I owe thousands of dollars and they have deducted what I was under paid from the amount I supposedly now owe. I appealed their decision back about a year plus ago and have still yet to hear anything on my situation. It has been very confusing to say the least, plus I was not well during that whole time so my participation was marginal at best and I trusted SS to stear me right. So as far as reporting changes in one’s situation it would be very beneficial if SS was held to the same reporting standards to their clients. Not enough people…. hire more, or help me to understand why such extremely long delays????
R.F.
Unfortunately, your questions are 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 continue working with your local office on specific information about your case. Thanks!
Mari B.
I am on social security disability. My son who is now 17 and also receives benefits. He is now a junior in a state approved on line school. Connections Academy. He will be turning 18 next Sept 14. but will still be attending the online school until he graduates. Will he still receive benefits until he graduates?
How are his benefits affected if he gets a part time job?
R.F.
Normally, benefits for children stop when children reach age 18 unless they are disabled. However, if the child is still a full-time student at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, benefits will continue until the child graduates or until two months after the child becomes age 19, whichever is first. You must complete forms regarding the type of school your child is attending. For further assistance, please call our toll free telephone number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday to Friday, between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Or contact your local Social Security office.
If a child on your record works while receiving benefits, the yearly earnings limits apply.