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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Debra L.
None of the information tells where to report change in marital status. We kept our own names.
V.V.
Hi Debra, thank you for using our blog. If you are not changing your name after marriage, then you do not need to change your name on your Social Security card. If receiving a Social Security benefit, check out our Frequently Asked Question: If I get married, will it affect my benefits. We hope this helps.
Jay G.
I have an CMS WCMSA account can I still apply for Medicare?
V.V.
Hi Jay, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details related to Medicare. Hope this helps.
Joy W.
Dear Sir/Madam,
I would like to update my information on my social security asap? But I called the office many times, but they said: we are closed, and can I update online if I don’t have a created account? Now I live in California with my sons temporarily. Please advise me on this updating matter by emailing me, much appreciated.
Thank you! (May 3rd, 2020)
Joy (A New Yorker)
1-9172049088
Pamela E.
I am the CEO of a newly established residential home. I have 2 men with Down’s Syndrome who changed their provider to my company. How do I change the representative payee from the previous provider to me? Thank you for your help.
V.V.
Hi Pamela, thank you for your question. Please call your local Social Security office to inquire about applying to be the representative payee. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Paul H.
Hi. I currently pay an IRMAA for my medicare using my 1040 MAGI from 2018 as a basis for the IRMAA. But I amended this 1040 to change my filing status from married separate to married joint. MAGI did not change, but the new filing status will change the IRMAA. I know that form SSA-44 is used to correct a change in MAGI, but the form says it should not be used for amended 1040 returns that do not change MAGI. How then do I tell SSA to use my new amended 1040 to correct the IRMAA for 2020? Do I need to call you, or what?
V.V.
Hi Paul, thank you for using our blog. For your security, we do not have access to private information in this venue. Please call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Mary C.
How do I change my email and phone number
V.V.
Hi Mary, thank you for your question. After you sign in to your my Social Security account, you can update your email address. After inputting your username and password, you will be at the security code screen. If you receive your security code via email only, then indicate that you cannot access the options listed above and need to reset where you receive security codes. We will then send you a letter with a reset code and instructions. We hope this helps.
David E.
I’m trying to get information for my mother who is 96 yrs old. She is changing her direct deposit from a bank to another because of her bank being sold to another bank. She is not on the internet and only has a house phone. She needs to change her direct deposit routing number for her monthly SS money. Can she doing this over the phone? or can she obtain a form to fill out and send in. Thanks you for your help.
V.V.
Hi David, thanks for your question. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how to change direct deposit.
Earleene k.
Wow do I report change in marital status? I am divorced now and office is closed and I can’t find on this site where go report it.
V.V.
Hi Earleene, thank you for using our blog. 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. To report your marital status change, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
Pamela T.
i need to report the death of a parent.
V.V.
Hi Pamela. We are very sorry for 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, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213 or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal.
See our Factsheet on How Social Security Can Help When a Family Member Dies.
Claudia Q.
I need help appealing my ssi mental and physical illness case