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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Roger G.
There is insufficient help for recipients of Social Security Retirement Benefits, who live outside the USA and have no US address. With no US address, it is not possible to set up a MySocialSecurity account and change bank details. I need to change the bank account number to which my benefit is paid, but the best help available seems to be to provide a contact number to which a reply can be in the next 48 to 72 hours. This assumes the beneficiary is available at that number 24/7! If I am not at home when the call is made, I will have to repeat the procedure, therefore, the current procedure is not customer-friendly. Anything that can be done to help beneficiaries overseas would be much appreciated.
Talena C.
I have recently gotten divorced and got granted my maiden name back how do I go about applying for that? Is there a form that can be mailed to me so that I can change my last name back to my maiden name ?
Richard M.
I suspended benefits in order to earn delayed retirement credits and now, since I have just turned 70, would like to apply for the increase in benefit. If I can do this on-line I cannot figure out how to do. Can you help?
R.F.
Hello Richard, if your benefits are “suspended”, you will have to contact your local Social Security office, you cannot apply online.
Please keep in mind, the benefit increase no longer applies when you reach age 70, even if you continue to delay taking benefits.
For further assistance or to make an appointment, call us at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!
Jack H.
I need to tell you to change the address of my benefits. Presently they go to Wells Fargo in Seal Beach, CA. All future payments should go to Farmers & Merchants bank in Rossmoor, CA, 12535 Seal Beach Blvd.,
R.F.
Hello Jack. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons we do not have access to personal records in this blog. If you get Social Security benefits or are enrolled in Medicare, you can change your address and update your direct deposit information online by using a my Social Security account.
Please 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. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Thanks!
Roger G.
What do I have to do if I live overseas, no longer have a US address and need to change the details of the US bank account into which my benefits are paid? I have to have a US address to set up a My Social Security account.
Thanks for your help.
V.V.
Hi Roger: We recommend that individuals living outside the United States contact the nearest Federal Benefits Unit or U.S. Embassy in their area for assistance with their Social Security benefits.
Also, our Office of International Operations home page provides more information to assist our customers living abroad.
Shelley a.
I need to change my email address so I can log in and reapply how do I do that
R.F.
For assistance with your my Social Security account, you may:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. At the voice prompt, say “helpdesk”; or
•Contact your local Social Security office. Thanks!
JULIE M.
I’m rep payee for my granddaugther who is now living with us on the Eastern Shore. We are in the process of changing banks for her direct deposit and we need a copy of letter stating I’m the payee to do so.
Julie Helsel, rep payee xxxxx6174
Emilee Heim xxxxx5889
V.V.
Hi Julie. It sounds like you need to request a benefit verification letter. Unfortunately, you cannot request a benefit verification letter online for another person, such as a spouse or child. To request a benefit verification letter for your granddaughter, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Charles M.
I appreciate it when you said that the person’s life changes can affect their social security benefits, so it is best to declare them always. I will mention this to my friend since he mentioned that he has a feeling he will be disabled soon. To be honest, I do not know how it works. But if it can adversely or positively affect his benefits, then he deserves to know. https://cooklaw.org/salt-lake-city/
Jacqueline W.
How do I change my name on my social security card? I’m divorced and am reverting back to my maiden name.
V.V.
Hi Jacqueline. Thank you for the question. See our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to change your name.
virgil c.
I helped a friend to apply for retirement ss online, and sent it. Things changes so he wants ss to start 1 month later then applied. What should we do to change this?.
Thank you.
V.V.
Hi Virgil, thanks for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to information in this venue.
For your friend to receive assistance with their retirement application, they should:
•Call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.; or
•Contact their local Social Security office.
Mark S.
When is my Representative Payee Report Due?
V.V.
Mark, thank you for your question. We mail an annual Representative Payee Report to the payees who are required to complete the report. If you receive the report, fill it out promptly and mail it back, or follow the directions that you receive with the report and submit the report online. Whether you choose to complete the paper report or the online version, the report is simple to complete if you keep clear records of how you spent or saved the money throughout the year.
Due to a recent change in law, we no longer require an annual Representative Payee Report from certain representative payees. For details, see the FAQs for Representative Payees web page.