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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Rosalia M.
I would like to report/confirm my mother’s death ; she was receiving my dad’s SS; I believe the funeral home notified SS, but was told to follow up on this. Mother’s name: Louise Geppi, passed away on December 21, 2019, in Melbourne, Florida. I do have her SSN, address, date of birth and death. What else needs to be done. Trying to call SS office is not efficient, wait times are long, and prompts are not always clear. I have tried the Melbourne office and one in Towson, MD-near to where I live. Thank you for your input.
Luis A.
Hi Rosalia. We are sorry for your loss. Normally, the funeral home reports the death to Social Security. But you can report your mother’s the 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. You may also report it at the local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Janice T.
This did not help me ! I reported I womn my car accident case and recieved over 15, 000 she said I had to spend it down I did and kept all.my receipts. However they sent my no direct deposit to buf a to my account and I closed it out that day .they also said they sent my dec.chek there to buf a how ??? Buf A said they sent it back to social security . I never received it hr said oh yes u did and they took out payments for over a year making it more than I got. They owe me!!! How do I get it back ? Janice Taylor
Ann C.
Hi, Janice. 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.
Dorothy L.
I DO NOT HAVE MEDICARE . YET THEY CONTINUE TO DEDUCT FROM MY CHECK
Ann C.
Hi, Dorothy. 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 concerns. 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.
Hyung J.
My daughter is a freshman at UNC at Chapel Hill and tried to file her FAFSA application for 2020-2021. However, she realized that she misinformed her social security number last year and cannot change it for her FSA ID. How can she get social security verification? Please let me know the verification process.
Ann C.
Hi, Hyung. Thanks for your question. Your daughter’s Social Security card is proof of her Social Security number. If she needs to replace her Social Security card, she can visit our Social Security Number and Card page to see if she’s eligible to apply for a replacement Social Security card online or to learn more on the process and what documents she will need to get a card. We hope this helps.
Dan K.
Am I eligible eye glasses after the removal of a cataract. Had one removed 4 Yrs ago , didn’t bother to check then
Ann C.
Hi, Dan. You will need to check with your insurance provider for questions about coverage. Thanks!
Gordon A.
I want to change the credit union that my EFT is currently going to Thank you.
Luis A.
Hi Gordon. Good news! To change your direct deposit information, please log into your personal my Social Security account. We hope this helps.
Luis A.
Hi Gordon. Good news! You can change your direct deposit information by using your personal my Social Security account. We hope this helps.
ronald m.
My mother passed away 3 weeks ago. I have already reported this to SSA. However, I need to apply for a new EIN number for her trust. How do I go about doing this? I attempted to google it, but all I see are dozens of SSA websites–not applicable.
Luis A.
Hi Ronald. We are sorry for your loss. Please note that EIN numbers are issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). We hope this helps.
Filomena d.
I would like to schedule an appoitment to come to Salem ma to speak to someone!
Luis A.
Hi Filomena. Please call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), from Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
Brooke P.
I need an email address from Ottumwa, Iowa Social Security Office to send a termination paper because I live about 30 minutes away so figured I could just email them the paper. I have a Social Security online account but I can’t find there email address.
Luis A.
Hi Brooke. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to your Social Security record in this forum. Please call our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or follow up with your local Social Security office for assistance. We hope this helps.
Melissa S.
I haven’t worked for eight weeks will SSDI give me extra money too pay my bills