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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Lisa G.
I’m on SSI
I need to sell my new house and re buy in a cheaper area.
Lisa G.
I’m on SSI and recieved inheritance.
I did spend down, bought house,during the most horrible,grieving, list of my Mother.
I followed all rules! It was horrible.
Now it’s been 1yr.
I need to sell and re buy somewhere I can afford.
I felt rushed! Now I have to do it again.
I hope SSA understands.
Carl B.
I put down an incorrect year for a birthday.of my spouse. How can I correct?
Beverly B.
I have tried, SEVEN (7) times to inform this office of new information on my bank account for my direct deposit benefits. And this online service IS NOT USER friendly.
My benefits are paid the second Wednesday of the month and it was necessary for me to close out my previous checking account and open a new one, but because your online system is so hard to get into, I am unable to do so. It is now after hours and I am most assuredly sure there will be no one to talk to until Monday. Giving me two days before my benefits are to be paid. SOMEONE, needs to revamp your system to allow OLDER, NON TECH SAVY INDIVIDUALS TO GET THRU TO YOU! Since the whole world thinks that the internet is the most ideal way to communicate, at least make it simple. I can’t very well have your site open, and have to go to my email to get some stupid code, then try to come back to your site to have to start all over again. This is STUPID!
My responsibility is to inform your office of my changes, so you tell me how this can be done when I get the run around? Your IT people need to come up with a better solution to this. Just cause they have a collage degree, DOES NOT MEAN THEY ARE SMART, just able to buy that piece of paper! FIX IT!
A.C.
Hi, Beverly. We are sorry to hear about your experience. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community to continue to work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. You can ask to speak to a supervisor on your next visit or call. We hope this is resolved soon.
Lisa
IWhen I move from SSDI to regular retirement SS, will my nondisabled child lose their benefits as well?
bellingham
no no no is this robbery by deceit? You change rules than surprise us after the fact. I never receive any info about any changes. only time I hear about a change is when you guy take my fund. The only people i see involed in this is poor. people that worked in rrestuarants before Mc donalds. The people that worked in hospitals. the guys that cleaned offices. None of them eaned much only enough to last until next payday. Gas station attendants that pumped your gas I guess life is what it is
Jamil
I just got married andIi receive SSI. Do my benefits increase because she is unemployed
A.C.
Hi, Jamil. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. We ask that members in our Blog community work with our offices with specific questions. You can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., for assistance. Generally, you will have a shorter wait if you call later in the day. You can also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Barbara S.
where do I mail death certificate to report stop benefits of loved one
A.C.
Hi, Barbara. We are sorry to hear about your loss. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by sending the deceased person’s death certificate to their local Social Security office. However, you may also report the death of a Social Security beneficiary by calling 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., or by submitting the death certificate to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps!
Roy
This is run around bullshit I asked a simple question.how does selling your. Affect your disability
Richard S.
How do I notify you of our change in banks?
J.Y.
Thanks for your question, Richard. If you’ve already opened another account, and receive Social Security benefits, you can create a my Social Security account to change your direct deposit online. If you have not opened a new account and need assistance, you can call the Direct Express helpline at 1-800-333-1795 to see if they can help you. We hope this helps!