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!
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: retirement benefits, SSI, supplemental security income, survivors benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications
Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Alvin H.
I am never to put my SS number online so how am i suppose to change my direct bank account?
R.F.
See: “How can I change or sign up for direct deposit for my Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments?“. Thanks!
Hector R.
how do I change my old email to the new email
R.F.
Hello Hector. For assistance, please call our dedicated my Social Security-Hotline. To reach this hotline, call 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!
Elaine H.
My mother in law has passed away and I am trying to report it so her benefit checks can be stopped. Help!
V.V.
Hi Elaine. We are very sorry for your loss. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by contacting the local Social Security office. To verify this information was reported, call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or you can contact your local Social Security office directly.
See our Factsheet on How Social Security Can Help When a Family Member Dies.
Stephanie C.
How do I get Part D taken off my monthly deductions?
I never signed up for Part D, and do not want it. I already have a drug prescription plan through my secondary insurances!
V.V.
Thank you for contacting us, Stephanie. To inquire about your Medicare premium deductions, you will have to 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.
Daniel P.
My son passed away on 10-01-2014. I did not report his death at the time. His name is Paul Anthony Pannucci and his Social Security number is *** – ** – ***. Please let me know if the funeral home filed the report.
V.V.
Hi Daniel, we are very sorry for your loss. To verify whether or not the funeral director notified us of your son’s passing, call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. or you can contact your local Social Security office directly.
Judith B.
Need to change bank account number for direct deposit
K.O.
Hello Judith. Thanks for the question. If you’re receiving Social Security benefits (retirement, survivors, or disability), you can start or update your direct deposit information by using your personal my Social Security account.
If receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or unable to conduct business online, you can start or update your direct deposit by contacting the bank, credit union, or savings and loan association or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
See our Frequently Asked Questions web page for more information.
Shirley A.
Help, Help, I am having a VERY Difficult time changing my bank information for my automatic Direct Deposit !!!
I am 81 years old but I thought I was somewhat computer literate. Went on-line and completed everything including the 3 security questions to open my account. – it keeps saying my info is incorrect. !! All I want to do is change my husband’s and my bank information EFF 01/01/2019.
Will someone please call me at 513-239-8687 and help us to make these simple changes.
I have also called the S.S. tele. # and am ALWAYS told that the wait time is 1 hour and 55 minutes. Who waits this long ??? I have also thought about actually going to a S.S. office – but would probablyS have to have an appointment???
Please help us …………………..
Jason H.
Will use a hypothetical example. SSA (Social Security Adminsitration) receives a certified packet by mail that contains a federal tax with holding and a change in receiving another pension (lets call it a DRA (disability retirement annuity)) mailed under SSA required time guidelines in June (9 days after payment information received from DRA and sent certified on this 9th day mark). The pension information contained how much DRA (this instance a pension that only paid medicare instead of full fica) will pay and if any back payment is issued as from DRA. How long does SSA have to respond as this DRA activates a WEP instance? By response, I mean a)recognize it is a wep, b) calculate any overpayment if they happened, c) notify person of the new change in pay as well as any other info required. How much time is allowed to a SSA worker to complete this task (in days)?
Also hypothetically lets say the local ssa office that recieved this sent it onto Baltimore SSA office for handling (adding level of complication). Person follows up with phone call to local ssa office, only to find out it has been sent on and ssa agent is baffled as to why it is sent on when local agency can process this in house. Baltimore responds to tax with holding by August lets say (2 months later). Then sits until February (8 months later) of next year and sends out an error calculation letter with drop in payment rate with zero info in regards to what the error was. Follow that with a PDB in May and form inquiring about PDB. Then waits until November to send out letter stating a WEP instance is present now (17 months later) with over payment requested paid. All this is hypothetical of course. By this point would you say SSA dropped the ball given this hypothetical situation? What recourse would said person have given this hypothetical situation? Lets also throw in that November letter in regard to WEP, left out options for the waiver reconsideration form and only demanded repaid in 30 days or file seeking reconsideration in 60 days hypothetically. Also since no one has asked, how long it should take to process this wep situation, as SSA would have all the past fica payments and medicare payments all set to go in there WEP calculators for easy processing for each person that pays into ssa.
This situation of course is hypothetical in nature. It is for mere purpose of getting appropriate time in days (counting work days only, aka business days) for completing a WEP process when information is sent in. As well as create a situation to where many errors were made in handling of this information, resulting in problems arising to the person who filed changes due to ssa errors and mishandling. Thus allowing for information on how to handle a situation like this when it appears bad as this information has not been gone over yet. What options are there for a person experiencing a situation like this? For out there is a person encoutering issues with wep right now, and this hypothetical sitation may be the guidance in helping them understand the process time as well as there rights if errors occur on ssa side.
Charles G.
Can my earnings record be corrected after receiving social security benefits?
ISMAEL B.
I MUST CHANGE MY CHCKING ACCOUNT (IMMEDIATELY) INFORMATION AS MY CHECKS ARE DIRECT DEPOSIT.
V.V.
Hi Ismael. Thanks for the question. If you’re receiving Social Security benefits (retirement, survivors, or disability), you can start or update your direct deposit information by using your personal my Social Security account.
If receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or unable to conduct business online, you can start or update your direct deposit by contacting the bank, credit union, or savings and loan association or by calling Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778).
See our Frequently Asked Questions web page for more information.