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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Michael G.
My friend reported a hange of direct deposit bank Sunday but the response is the change won’t take place till the third of next month and her payments have traditionally been deposited on the first.
What happens next?
mgreen5087@aol.com
V.V.
Thank you for contacting us, Michael. Unfortunately, and because of security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot assist.
Your friend can inquire about her direct deposit change by contacting her local office or she can call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
tommie H.
still waiting for info. from my last visit offset change of benefits.
A.C.
Thanks for your comment, Tommie. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community continue to work with their local office on specific questions with their case. You can also call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. We hope this is resolved soon.
Michael P.
I try to report my wages and I’m getting a hour hour and a half two hour wait time and I can’t be on the phone when I’m at work .I don’t want to lose my job and I don’t want to go to jail what am I to do
V.V.
Hi Michael. You can report wages by visiting, calling, or writing your local Social Security Office. The reporting options are to use the automated toll-free SSI Telephone Wage Reporting Service, the free SSI Mobile Wage Reporting Smartphone app, or the my Social Security online wage reporting tool.
Samuel S.
The address is 6653 Wahlfield Ave Nw
Comstock Park MI, 49321
Samuel S.
I’m the payee for my dad Mario Sepulveda and my mom Evelyn Sepulveda just trying to do a change of address my address change
V.V.
Hi Samuel: To change the address for your parents, please 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 your local Social Security office.
Joyce K.
I’ve moved. How do I notify you of change of address?
A.C.
Hi, Joyce. Thanks for your question. If you are receiving Social Security retirement or disability, you can create a personal my Social Security account to change your address online. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, you should contact your local office immediately. We hope this helps.
Salvatore L.
I WANT TO CHAGE BANK WHERE MY CHECK IS DEPOSITED, HOW DO I DO IT
A.C.
Thanks for your question, Salvatore. If you are receiving Social Security retirement or disability, you can create a personal my Social Security account to change your address online. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income, you should contact your local office immediately. We hope this helps.
Babygirl
Yeah I need to report Roberto Gorie he gets ssi and marreid to Maria veliz in Salem she wroks as teacher assistant at head start I need to report that. He gets benefits and needs to be looked at he DOB 04-04-84 he his address is 4055 Market St apt 6 Salem Oregon he needs to be reported
A.C.
Hi.We take allegations of fraud very seriously and we appreciate your attempts to report it in a field office. Since you suspect fraud, waste or abuse of Social Security benefits, we encourage you to report it. The length of time that it takes to investigate a fraud case varies. Also, federal regulations prohibit the disclosure of information contained in law enforcement records even to the individual making the allegation. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information or the personal information of others on social media. We hope you find this useful.
GAIL H.
We are changing our bank and need to notify Social Security for our direct deposits.
V.V.
Hi Gail. 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.
Billy W.
I have been trying to send information to the local office but it is impossible. I was told to fax it to the Conroe location but the fax number doesn’t work. I am unable to access the online park because the website has issues with loading the page so I have hit enter too many times and it locked me out. This happens a lot. Sometimes turning in documents at the office is a nightmare as well. If I can not see my case worker the documents become lost.