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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Marilyn B.
It is not my responsibility that I am forced to pay my rent 3 or days late. Social security is the reason that I get paid late. When this happens, I feel SSI is robbing me of $20.00.
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Barbara
Hello..I just found out that I was supposed to report income earned over the allowed amount of $15720 ten days after knowing. I didn’t realize I was over until after receiving my W-2. Right now I am a nervous wreck, stressed out and feeling sick because I am petrified as to what may come of this. I know now that I have to report this. Can you please advise me on what will happen? I am currently laid off from a job as of March 31st, 2016 and I don’t have any other income but SSI. Will my checks now be cut off because of my ignorance? Is there a penalty to pay? Please help
Ray F.
Hi Barbara. When you receive Social security benefits and work at the same time, we usually ask that you give us an estimate of your earnings for the year. If later you realize your earnings will be higher or lower than you estimated, we ask that you notify us as soon as possible so that we adjust your benefits, if necessary. If you exceeded the allowable earnings amount in 2015, we probably paid you more than you should have been paid, which means you now have an overpayment on your record. We deduct $1 from your benefit for each $2 you earned above the $15,270. To learn more about “How Work Affects Your Benefits”, visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page for more information. Since we do not have access to personal records in this blog, we suggest that you visit your local office. They should be able to assist you in coordinating the collection of the overpayment while considering your current situation. You can also call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday but you will generally have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.
Wendy. S.
My mom receives SSI for about 6 years had 2 massive strokes in October and went to a new nursing facility in February for 1 month to finish her rehab, the facility sent over to ss to receive her check directly to them although I didn’t authorized it, ( I have power of attorney ) and knew she was only going to be there for about 26 days and I gave them a check for her ss income of the whole amount the beginning of February. Her march check was deposit to the nursing facility although she left on the 26th of February and I already paid them, after about 2 weeks and back and forth they refunded the check. On Mar 3rd I had everything changed over back to her bank account, on April 1st SSI tried to deposit to the nursing home and it was rejected cause they closed off her account at the facility sent back to ss, it’s April 5th and they haven’t tried sending it to her account I tried calling them and get we are extremely busy at this time try calling back and the phone hung up, tried again after 45 mins I hung up cause I was at work and couldn’t hold anymore. My question is will they send her check to her account sometime soon or do I have to go to the office in person?
Ray F.
We are sorry to hear about your mother’s medical condition Wendy, and apologize for the inconveniences you are experiencing while trying to contact us. Perhaps, you should apply to become your mother’s representative payee. As a representative payee, you will be able to discuss your mother’s case with us and have access to your mother’s records or the ability to update her account information.
Please note that having a power of attorney, being an authorized representative, or having a joint bank account with the beneficiary, is not the same as being a payee. These arrangements do not give you legal authority to negotiate and manage payments for someone receiving Social Security or SSI payments. You must apply for and be appointed as a representative payee by SSA.
To become your mother’s representative payee, you will need to contact your local Social Security office for a face-to-face interview. A statement from her doctor would be helpful. The statement should say that your mother is not able to -mentally and physically- manage her Social Security benefits and identify you as the person responsible to keep her finances in order. Please read our publication: A Guide For Representative Payees for more information. If you have specific questions, or to make an appointment, please call 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to speak to one of our representatives. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.
WD
The website notes repeatedly that it is your responsibility to report any changes to annual earnings as they may affect your current SS payment amounts. But I don’t see anywhere on the website to report this change and I lost my part-time job. I currently have no earnings, and I’d like my SS to increase as a result. Where on the website do I report this type of change?
Ray F.
If you are working, we usually ask you to estimate your earnings for the year. If later you realize your earnings will be higher or lower than you estimated, you can let us know by calling our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, or contact your local Social Security office. We will adjust your benefits, if necessary. At this time you cannot report a change of earnings online. Please visit our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working for more information.
Susan
I have been fighting to get my survivor benefits back for my kids for about a year. Back in Feb 2015 my parents took custody of my kids by lying to the court saying I abandoned them. my mother had my direct express card mailed to her by calling and pretending to be me on the phone with direct express, and withdrew every red cent before I even knew it had happened. The truth was that I was stuck in another state and couldn’t get back home (they left me in the state by the way) I had to stay in a homeless shelter for a month and when I finally got my money for the month it was only for me. My family had lied about not knowing where I was so the judge granted them custody. When I came back home they didn’t tell me about the court date for the appeal..in fact they said I hadn’t gotten any mail at all. Of course this was a lie. When the next court date came up they had a lawyer and I naturally didn’t because they had my income. The lawyer of theirs convinced me to allow them to have joint custody and I was promised I would get our money back. That was a lie. I went up to social security and told them the children were and always had been in my custody but because the court papers included my mothers name (she put herself as the payee) I was told I could do nothing and that she had to come up to ss and sign the money back over to me. She doesn’t spend the money on my kids and I have proof of that, but what can I do?? This is the only income we have and I can’t afford a lawyer to fight it. Please tell me there is something I can do to fix this so the money goes where it belongs..to my children.
Ray F.
Generally, we pay the benefits to the family member who is the primary care provider of the child. It is possible that benefits be paid to the grandparents if they have legal custody and the children live with them. Unfortunately, but for security reasons, we do not have access to personal records in this blog. Please continue working with your local office about this situation.
Beverly W.
I became a widow at age 60. My date of birth 6/20/1941. My understanding was that as a survivor My full retirement age would be 65yrs 4mo. SS denied me benefits saying my full retirement age as a survivor would be 65yrs 8 mon. That does match full retirement age for my retitement from working but I what about the FRA as a survivor. I am actually still working full time because I cannot afford to retire.Because of that decision by SS I had to pay back all benefits that I had received during the year 2006 as survivor benefits in the amt of 600.00 month until it was all repaid
I do not know if it is too late to protest this.
Betsy M.
I got married in July of 2015. I called SSI and reported both my marriage and a change of address the following Monday. I heard nothing from SSI till the tax forms started coming out, at which point I called the main office about my SSI tax forms. At that point, I was informed that not only did they NOT make a note of my marriage, but that they changed the address for my SSI but NOT my SSDI too. I just got my wife’s W2 back from the tax prep people, so I am sending my local office a copy of it today.
My question is, what happens now? I did inform SSI within the required time, but it is now well out of the required time due to the main SSI office error. Does my wife’s income even count to my SSI SSDI? If it does am I going to be penalized when I did, in fact, inform them on time but they didn’t write it down? I’m just really worried about what is going to happen here. If you have any answers I would really appreciate some help. Thanks.
Ray F.
We apologize for the inconveniences Betsy. If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. However, marriage and living arrangements can affect your Supplemental Security Income or SSI benefits. The amount of SSI benefits is based, in part, on the income and resources available to the individual. This includes income and resources available from his or her spouse. Based on what you have shared, we suggest that you contact your local office and speak to a representative for further assistance.
Nancy D.
I am divorced from a man for 20 years who has been collecting SSDI, 100% since 1993. He is 65 years old, and next Feb. 2016 I will turn 60. I have been told when I turn 60 I can start collecting a portion of his S.S. Can someone verify this, and does anyone know the % I might receive? I have never remarried.
Ray F.
Hi Nancy, Only widows and surviving divorced spouses may be eligible for benefits at age 60 (age 50 if disabled). You may be eligible to receive benefits on your ex-spouse’s record at age 62 or older. See our Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced for other eligibility requirements and more detailed information. Thanks.
Aaron A.
What are the reasons I wouldnt receive my son’s disability payment… I have it direct deposited into my Direct Express account there isn’t any changes to report I haven’t done anything that I shouldn’t have I’ve been receiving the same amount on the same time at the same day for over 2 years I am my son’s caregiver he’s two years old and is unable to take care of himself whatsoever so can you please explain why I wouldn’t receive his money