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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susan e.
my daughter has been living with my mom 50 50 does that change my ssi and my disability. I moved to another town and she wanted to finish school where I used to live. do I need to report it.
A.C.
Hi, Susan. Thanks for your question. Supplemental Security Income (SSI), is a benefit program for disabled adults and children who have limited income and resources. There are times when SSI benefit determinations are affected by an applicant’s living arrangement. To understand how the Supplemental Security Income program works, visit here. You should report any changes to your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Denis L.
I currently receive my monthly social security payment by electronic deposit in my bank. I want the monthly payment to go to a new bank account now. How can I do this correctly and does this change to a new bank account take place within 24 hours typically? If Social Security deposits my check in an account that is no longer in existence and therefore it is not deposited anywhere, how do I get a new electronic account notification to Social Security and is my social security check therefore deposited in that new account within 24 hours?
Renee G.
ANSWER THE PHONE. I NEED TO UPDATE MY INFORMATION. OR CALL ME BACK.
Ron B.
I like that you said that any overpaid or changes need to be reported to avoid charges. My dad told that he is going to retire soon and he wanted to know, how social security works. Thank you for helping me understand more about social security, I’m going to share it with my dad. https://rgglaw.net/practice-areas/social-security-disability/
Brenda
I am not receiving benefits yet, I will in a couple of years, but I am needing to change my add. I am sure you have a wrong add. on file. I have not received a form from SS that you receive 3 months before you birthday.
L.A.
Hi Brenda. If you are not receiving Social Security benefits yet, you don’t need to change your address with us at this time. If you do receive Social Security benefits, you can change your address using your personal my Social Security account. With your personal my Social Security account, you can also get your Social Security Statement that you used to get 3 months before your birthday. We hope this helps.
J.
I recently went to Social Security (about 15 mi away in the same state where I live) to get a corrected Soc. Security card with my new (by court order) name on it. That process went smoothly. However, I’m wondering if I need to report to the Soc. Security office in the exact city I live as well? I receive SSI and want to be sure everything is clear.
I did talk to someone on the phone and she said I should be fine. Can you confirm this? Thanks!
L.A.
Hi J. If you are receiving Social Security benefits, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits or have Medicare coverage, you can create a personal my Social Security account to change your address online. We hope this helps.
Loretta m.
Form to change direct deposit from old bank to new bank, do I need a new router # or is my old # still good
Richard H.
How do I report the death of a social security retiree, who is currently receiving retirement benefits?
Angie W.
My daughter receives SS since her fathers death. She turned 18 and 5 days later received another payment. I believe these payments should of stopped. Although we could totally us the money for college I don’t think we should be getting it. How should I proceed?
L.A.
Hi Angie. Thanks for your question. We pay benefits to surviving children until grade 12. However, if a child is still a full-time student at a secondary (or elementary) school at age 18, the benefits will continue until the child graduates from high school or until two months after the child turns age 19, whichever is first. You can find more information on our publication titled “Benefits For children.”
Ponell J.
My review got approved for the next 5-7 years. I received another letter today in which social security will contact me on August 12 2019 to ask more questions. The truth is, I reported a temp job last year, but didnt report the other temp job in south carolina last year. I never received check stubs for that job. In conclusion, if you stopped my payments, id be homeless, and wouldnt have medicaid to keep getting my psych meds. I ask that you deduct my benefits and not completely cut me off. Thank you for reading this. Have a nice day.