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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kirk f.
how do I change my direct deposit.my bank changed hands.
Dana F.
My son receives a Samsung check because he is ill. I get h housing voucher. I asked the rental office, before my son got his first check if I needed to report this as income and they said no because it’s not my income. Now that he has been receiving a check for almost a year the office told me that I must pay back rent because I never reported the income. I’m confused, that doesn’t sound right to me. Can anyone help me??
L.A.
Hi Dana. We do not administer housing vouchers. For specific questions about housing, please contact your local Housing and Urban Development (HUD) office. If you or your son have specific questions about Supplemental Security, Income (SSI) benefits you can learn more about what types of income can affect SSI payments, here. Remember that SSI benefits are based on income, resources, and living arrangements. A person receiving SSI should report all changes of income, personal and household, to us immediately. If you have been informed of an overpayment from Social Security, please read our publication. If you still have questions, and for further assistance, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-772-1213), between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. If you have been informed of an overpayment, we ask that you work with your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
bruce R.
how do I report a death?
A.C.
Hi, Bruce. Typically, the funeral director notifies us of an individual’s passing by contacting the local Social Security office. To verify this information was reported, please call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You can also contact your local Social Security office directly. Thanks.
Vincent D.
I was penalized for $15,000.00 Social Security says i could not get UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION AND SSDI INSURANCE , HOWEVER I APPLIED FOR SOCIAL SECURITY 2 TIMES ONCE IN 1990 INTO 1992 AND WAS SAID WAS DENIED NOT INFORMED OF AN APPEAL HOWEVER MY NOW DECEASED MOTHER HAD APPLIED DURING THAT TIME , AND IN 2003 I APPLIED AGAIN AND APPROVED IN LATE 2004 INTO 2005 , I HAD STOPPED WORKING IN late 2002 THEREFORE HAD NOT HAD UNEMPLOYMENT COMPENSATION TO PAY ME UP TO. 2003 THEREFORE I WILL RECEIVE MY $15,000.00 OF THE PENALIZATION THAT WAS UNLAWFULLY TAKEN FROM MY BENEFITS I RECEIVE EVERY MONTH JUST AS EVERYONE ELSE THAT RECEIVES SSDI I WILL HAVE JUSTICE REGARDING THIS SOCIAL SECURITY ADMINISTRATION INVESTIGATION . LOOK FORWARD TO SPEAKING WITH YOU OF THIS LIBEL SLANDER. VERY SOON
Karen S.
I have been trying to contact your office for 2 weeks! My mother died on October 21,2019, her payments were automatic to her checking account here in Henderson NV.
Her name is Jamesy Carol Settle. Please email me because I’m trying to cancel! My email is ksmquilter@aol.,com. My name is Karen S. Martin.
I;ve tried calling & doing this on line. thank you!
A.C.
Hi, Karen. We are sorry to hear about 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, and to see if you are eligible for survivor’s benefits, call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available 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. You can also contact your local Social Security office directly. Just a reminder – please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. We hope this helps.
Noah T.
I have completed the FAFSA online and am getting an error indicating that the SSA verification has failed. I double checked and all the information is correct. This is preventing me from applying to college. I have called twice and been on hold both times for over an hour and then gotten disconnected. There seems to be nothing on this website relevant to my issue. Please help!
Yolanda
Will my SSI and disability check be lowered if I’m was secondary caregiver for my niece and I was chosen because the first caregiver which was here Grandma couldn’t take care of her. She receives a check from her deceased father and if I add her to my food stamps
L.A.
Hi Yolanda. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. Serving as a representative payee will not lower your SSI check. To learn more about the responsibilities of a representative payee, you can read our publication titled “A Guide for Representative Payees.” For specific questions about your case, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. to request an appointment at the local Social Security office to become her representative payee. We hope this information helps.
Virginia W.
I want to report a recent death of my mother-in-law. Please discontinue her social security benefit . Death was 10-23-19.
Please call me at 469-200-5222 or 816-651-4875 for her social security number. Her name is Geraldine Marcella Webb,
L.A.
Hi Virginia. We are sorry for your loss. Normally, the funeral home reports the death to the local Social Security office. But you can report your mother-in-law’s death by calling us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. We hope this helps.
Emily m.
Social security has my new address wbich i submitted. But, i didn’t show the lease. They didn’t for it.
Jeffry R.
Where to I find a Medicare IRMAA Life-Changing Event form?
A.C.
Hi, Jeffry. Please click here for the SSA-44, Medicare Related Monthly Adjusted Income Amount-Life Changing Event form. Thanks!