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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Jerry L.
I retired in 2014. In January of 2015, I immediately contacted social security and notified them that my previous employer had phoned and asked me to come in for some consulting work which could consist of me earning more than the $15,720 limit in 2015. I also, in that call, asked them to stop my social security payments until what I owed was paid in full since I was only to work for 6 weeks. They withheld 10 months of payments but withheld quite a bit too much going by the retirement earnings test and estimated benefits reduction test that I found online. We received a letter back in March of 2016 saying that when they receive this information on the W-2 form or forms submitted by my employer of how much I earned, they would make final adjustments for 2015. This information of my 2015 wage earnings has been on my record at the social security office for months now though and I have heard nothing back. What month do they go over this each year and will I for sure hear back from them about this soon? One lady that I spoke to today told me they go over them in September or October of each year. Is this correct?
R.F.
Thank you for your question Jerry. Each year -towards the end of the year-, we review the records for all working Social Security recipients. If your earnings for the prior year are higher than one of the years we used to compute your retirement benefit, we will recalculate your benefit amount. We pay the increase retroactive to January the year after you earned the money. See our Retirement Planner: Getting Benefits While Working for more information.
Jerry L.
Thank you, Ray. Those 6 weeks that I worked during 2015 which I mentioned here was the only time I worked since my retirement in June of 2014 and I do not intend to work again. We called social security as soon as I took the job, told them to hold my social security checks and they kept 10 payments which was $2,388 too much. The amount I earned for those 6 weeks has been on my social security account for months now. I only made a portion of what I did when I worked full time before I retired so recalculating benefits should not fall into this equation. We are simply due a refund and are wondering when they will review my account and if they will. Thank you, Ray.
R.F.
Hi Jerry, 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. We perform this review towards the end of each year. In addition, after you reach full retirement age, we will recalculate your benefit amount to give you credit for any months in which you did not receive a benefit because of your earnings. We will send you notifications (letters) telling you about any change or increase in your benefit amount. See How We Deduct Earnings From Benefits for more information. Please visit your local Social Security office or call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 for further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m.
Jerry L.
Thank you very much, Ray. We went to our local Conroe, Texas office today and the lady who spoke with us knew even less than we did so the visit was not a long one. She did say that all of this is in the payment center and they will work on it towards the end of the year. I also just sent another letter to your Chicago, Illinois office going over in detail (along with documentation) why we are owed the amount that we are sure we are owed. Hopefully, within the next few months, this can get settled correctly. Thanks again. You have been extremely helpful and it helps to know you are there.
Ruby
I have tried calling but the keep putting me on hold!! I just want to know if when is the right time to call to make a change of i already had my baby but she is still at the hospital! Do I call when she is already home with me?
..
Ruby, congratulations on your new bundle of joy! Please be sure to report any “life changes” which may affect eligibility in your federal 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. For more information, please visit: Significant Life Changes May Lead To Higher Benefit
If you are experiencing difficulties reporting this change, we encourage you to make an appointment by calling 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Monday-Friday and speak to one of our representatives. Generally, you may have shorter wait time if you call later in the week. Hope this helps.
Robert
Do I have to report a sale of Home if My Wife is on SSI and We sold at a loss and Moved into my Mom House she died 2 years ago I am a 1/3 owner when the estate closes
Robert
No Answer Yet
R.F.
Yes Robert, your wife should contact the local Social Security office and report the new address and provide details about the sale of your home. 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. Please see our Reporting Responsibilities web page for more important information.
Jonathon
I currently get benefits but they cut I because of my wife’s income were getting a divorce but still live together what will happen to my benefits will it stay the same or go up
R.F.
For your security, we do not have access to information about your account in this venue. Please contact your local office or call 1-800-772-1213, M-F between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask a representative to assist you. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call later in the week.
Earl
Hello. I am currently receiving SSI benefits. If I marry a foreigner who lives and works in Canada, will this affect my benefits? We will not be living in the same home nor will we be sharing bank accounts or income.
Thanks.
R.F.
When a person is receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), getting married may affect his or her benefit. This is because the amount of the SSI benefit is based, in part, on the income available to him or her and the spouse.
See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for more information.
Marylou M.
My common in law husband is receiving Ssi and we have 2 year old he is only receiving $733 and they won’t give us help for our 2 year old( besides food stamps) . Why is that? We don’t make it with only $733 a month
R.F.
Thank you for your question Marylou. Benefits issued through our Supplemental Security Income or SSI program are based on the needs of the individual and are only paid to the qualifying person. There are no spouse’s, children’s or survivors benefits payable. Benefits paid through our Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program, in certain circumstances, are payable to you and certain family members if you worked long enough and paid Social Security taxes. Your child may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live.
Lenny
I called SSA and was told that my online application was not in their system. How could this be, I applied in January. Is it possible that my initial online application got deleted by me applying for SSI 3 months after I applied for SSD online?
Lenny
Do you know?
Lenny
If you get denied for disability with an authorized representative, when and how can you proceed without them (without representation)? What would I have to do?
Cole
I need help! One of the dd’s for my children didn’t come through on Wed 6/20, this has never happened in 7 years with ssdi. I called ssa and was told the banking info had come off, it’s been the same since the beginning and my other child’s benefits were deposited into the account without problems as usual. The agent told me that a paper check was mailed and should have arrived the day benefits were due, which was Wednesday’s. The paper check still hasn’t been received and I’m really freaking nervous because I have a very tight budget and things are late already now because of this and I have to pay for his camp, a camp field trip by end of day etc. I can’t afford to wait weeks, or even days for this money. What am I supposed to do now? This wasn’t even my mistake!
R.F.
We apologize for the inconvenience Cole. We usually advise people to wait three business days after the date they are scheduled to receive their check before calling us. To report a late, missing, or stolen check, contact us at 1-800-772-1213 between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m., Monday through Friday, or contact your local Social Security office for further assistance.
Ricky
What if someone fails to report earned income and subsequently makes more than the allowed $1130 a month on SSDI?
R.F.
Generally, if you exceed the allowable earnings amount, there is a chance that we probably paid you more than you should have been paid. This can sometimes result in an overpayment.