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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If you knowingly make a statement which is false or misleading or knowingly fail to report important changes, we may impose a sanction against your payments. The first sanction period is a withholding of payments for 6 months. Subsequent sanction periods are for 12 months and then 24 months.
Karen S.
I need the $92 or $94 taken off my check. Please explain how I do this. Thank you.
Vonda V.
Hi Karen, thanks 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. You can 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.
JOSEPH L.
hi i married a woman in the philippines feb 13th 2020, she does not plan on moving to the usa,but i would like to know how to go about changing my martial status, thank you for your tme.yours truly JOSEPH D. LA MORA
Vonda V.
Congratulations, Joseph! Unfortunately, and because of security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog and cannot update your benefit record.
To report your marriage information, 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. We hope this information helps.
Arnett P.
I pay bills I need too see how to receive all benfints
Jackie B.
Is it possible to receive both SSDI and unemployment? I lost my job in February due to the pandemic.
I was told not to file for unemployment, to file for disability.
Now I’m being told that I should be able to get unemployment and Pandemic Unemployment Assistance retroactively. And that it would not affect SSDI benefits.
The employment office couldn’t answer my question
Please help. Thank you!
Vonda V.
Hi Jackie, thank you for your question. Unemployment benefits do not affect or reduce Social Security retirement and disability benefits. State unemployment compensation payments are not wages because they are paid due to unemployment rather than employment. However, income from Social Security may reduce your unemployment compensation. Contact your state unemployment office for information on how your state applies the reduction.
If you’re receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), unemployment insurance benefits are considered unearned income. If you, your spouse, or a child living in your household have any income other than your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment, including unemployment insurance benefits, you must tell us.
To learn more about SSI and how income affects your payment, read What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).
cindy w.
need to change my phone umber
Vonda V.
Hi Cindy, thanks for using our blog. If you get Social Security benefits (retirement, survivors, or disability), you can update your contact information including your telephone number, in your my Social Security account. If you have questions or need help understanding how to change your telephone number online, call our toll-free number a 1-800-772-1213 or call 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.
liuz s.
how do i report my edd? You guys care about the amount before deductions not after right? I been mailing my info every month and still you guys say havent recieved its pissing me off. I dont know how to fax. Is there a way to email my papers or a gurantee you will enter in my imformation? Thanks i like to turn in all my paper work but you guys always say never recieved
Vonda V.
Liuz, thank you for using our blog to ask your question. Individuals receiving Social Security disability benefits and Supplemental Security Income may use the my Social Security online wage reporting tool. If you’re unable to report your wages online, you can report your income by calling or writing your local Social Security Office.
Check out our Reporting Wages Online web page for more information.
nancy c.
I’m 73 and currently receive social security. the job pays $40,000 — do I need to report that additional income? will I need to fill out a 2020 tax form?
Vonda V.
Hi Nancy. Once you reach your full retirement age, earnings no longer reduce your benefits, no matter how much you earn.
Keep in mind, if you continue to work while receiving retirement benefits, your monthly benefit amount may increase. As long as you continue to work and receive benefits, we will check your record every year to see whether the additional earnings will increase your monthly benefit. If there is an increase, we will send you a letter telling you of your new benefit amount.
In regards to your question about taxes, some beneficiaries do have to pay federal taxes on their Social Security benefits. The taxation limits are based on the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) rules. Taxation inquiries should be addressed with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) at http://www.irs.gov or by calling their toll-free number at 1-800-829-1040.
Krystyna R.
Can you provide the actual link to report the change in earnings?
I’m getting early social security benefits and need to report a change in earnings.
The link you provided takes me to the SSA home page not the earnings change.
Thank you
Vonda V.
Hi Krystyna, thanks for using our blog. If you’re receiving Social Security retirement or survivor benefits and need to change your earnings estimate, you will need to 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.
Thomas A.
How can you go from receiving a direct deposit to receiving a paper check?
Ann C.
Hi, Thomas. Thank you for your question. There is a law that went into effect March 1, 2013 requiring electronic payment of Social Security and Supplement Security Income benefits. Treasury can grant exceptions in rare circumstances. For more information or to request a waiver, call Treasury at 855-290-1545. We hope this helps.