Disability, General, Retirement, SSI, Survivors

Reporting Changes is Your Responsibility

December 10, 2015 • By

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Last Updated: November 6, 2023

a picture of a hand on a laptop keyboard.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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About the Author

Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications

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Comments

  1. Crystal C.

    Hello my son will be turning 18 July 11 and was wondering will he get his check for July ? I got a letter stating he wouldn’t but that makes no sense since he isn’t 18 yet and has college supplies to buy still

    • D.B.

      Hi Crystal. Thanks for your question. Social Security child’s benefits are paid in the month following the month for which they are due. Your son should receive his last payment for the month of June, in July. Since he turns 18 in July, there will be no benefits payable in August for July.

  2. Who c.

    I went in for my yearly review and after we finished I asked the worker if I will still get my ssi the following week which is now the first and I was told yes. I didn’t get it and I have bills to pay and I go through something with them cutting my check or not paying me AT least every other month and it’s getting ridiculous. We get treated like crap for earning “free money” when we go through hell being disabled and then we go through more just to get paid. Are they trying to kill us faster or what? And why does our spouses get punished for our disability? Why should their income even matter towards what little chump change we make?

  3. Jennifer

    My son was due to receive his final back pay payment on June 18th. Yet still have not received nothing, was told that it can not be released until I do the payee year report. Which will next month, I never knew about that. Just trying to find out how that all works out.

  4. April

    My 2 kids recieve Benefits because their dad is Decease. We have move to the Philippines for almost a year now and I have forgotten to report the changes and report for the yearly spending of the money. I am scared that it my stop for not reporting it right away. Its the only income we have Now. They are currently studying here in the philippines and also dual citizens. My question is will their SSI be stop because i have not report it right away? Please let me know.
    Thank you,

    • R.F.

      Thank you for your question April. The good news is that your children may still be eligible to continue to receive their payments outside the United States. However, all Social Security beneficiaries living outside the U.S. are required to report their change of address, even if we are sending their payments to a bank or other financial institution. Failure to report your new address may result in an overpayment or suspension of benefits. To change your mailing address, please contact your nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate for assistance. Please visit our International Programs web page for more information.

  5. Carrie B.

    Where would I, online if possible, submit information regarding new/additional physician information, scheduled surgical procedures new and medications prescribed? I’ve not yet received decision on my filing for SSDI (filed Feb 23, 2016) and want to insure I remain in compliance. Am I able to do this online or must I contract my representative to update while decision is pending? Thank You

    • R.F.

      Hi Carrie. To add new medical evidence or a medical source to your pending claim, you can mail or take the information to your local Social Security office.

  6. Pete

    I received a letter from SS saying they were making a payment in my account of $9,990..and from April they will be increasing my SS monthly payments..from what I gather they have been underpaying me and corrected the payments..I also receive SS monthly payment from Australia..Australian SS will adjust their payment to me for any increase of my US SS payment..I am worried the Australian SS will penalize me for the $9,990 in back payment fro US SS..that doesn’t seem fair as US SS had informed them of what I had been receiving..I called Australian to tell them I had my payment adjusted and they said they need a letter from US SS..am I obliged to tell Australia about the lump sum payment of $9,990 as it doesn’t seem fair I would have my Australian SS cut because of being underpaid .

    • R.F.

      Hi Pete. As I’m sure you understand, your question is a complex one and outside the scope of what can be handled via this forum. Please visit our International Programs webpage to learn more about the Totalization Agreement between the United States and Australia. If after browsing our site and you still have questions about international Social Security agreements, we encourage you to call the Social Security Administration’s Office of International Programs at (41)965-3322 or (410)965-7306. Or visit your local office for further assistance.

  7. Edward

    I been back and forth at the social security office for a whole month. I reported new banking information to them. Since April .they keep sending my payments to my old account.. And last month they had to give me a papercheck..this month they did the same thing and I keep calling social security and going to the office. And I have not received my social security as of this date. They keep telling me to wait 7 days now the telling me to wait to the 18th of this month. I was supposed to get paid May 3 and my rent is due now they tell me to wait 18 days.. And when 18 days go by I will still have nothing.. My question is who do I contact about this what higher up can I go to ?

    • R.F.

      Hello Edward, we apologize for this inconvenience. For security reasons, we do not have access to personal records via this blog. Please continue working with your local office. You can request to speak with the manager to see how we can help to expedite resolution of your situation. If you are unable to visit your local servicing office, you may call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213, representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7:00a.m. and 7:00p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Thanks.

  8. cheryl

    I receive SSI and disability.I left my husband and moved in with my niece. I went to my local SS office and reported my changes.Do I have to contact medicare too ? Also since my husband just started getting retirement benefits,I filed for spousal benefits.If those benefits are not as much as my ssi will ssi make up the difference so I can keep my medicaid? Thank you

    • R.F.

      Hi Cheryl. Generally, we will also change your address for Medicare benefits, but if you prefer, you can still call the Medicare toll-free number at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227). Remember that the Supplemental Security Income or SSI program is a needs based program that gives cash assistance to disabled individuals with limited income and resources. The amount of SSI benefits is based, in part, on the income and resources available to the individual. For SSI eligibility, we will take into consideration any income and resources available to you. If your regular disability and spousal benefit combined, are lower than the regular monthly SSI payment (of $733), then you may still be eligible for SSI. Please contact your local Medicaid office for questions related to your medical assistance benefits.

  9. live

    Was due to receive child’s benefits today .. address change and deposit account changed when I called ss office this morning to ask where my money was they stated I waited to late to provide changed deposit information . They stated I should receive in mailbox today is that true. I thought they stopped sending out paper checks .. what is going on

  10. Marilyn B.

    Can’t someone help me?

Comments are closed.