If you receive SSI or SSDI and your income changes, you're required to report it to the Social Security Administration. Failing to report can lead to overpayments and benefit reductions.
In this article, we'll cover:
- Why reporting income matters
- What changes you need to report
- How to report to SSA
- Deadlines for reporting
- What happens if you don't report
1. Why Reporting Income Matters
SSA calculates your benefits based on your income and resources. When these change, your benefit amount may need to be adjusted.
For SSI: Your benefit amount changes monthly based on income. Unreported income means SSA pays you the wrong amount.
For SSDI: Earnings above certain limits can affect your eligibility. SSA needs to know if you're working.
Reporting keeps your benefits accurate and prevents problems down the road.
2. What Changes You Need to Report
Income changes to report:
- Starting a new job
- Getting a raise or pay cut
- Change in work hours
- Self-employment income
- Stopping work
Other changes to report:
- Change of address
- Change in living arrangements
- Marriage or divorce
- Change in household members
- Receiving other benefits
- Changes in resources (for SSI)
Important: When in doubt, report it. It's better to over-report than to face an overpayment notice later.
3. How to Report to SSA
You have several options for reporting changes:
Online:
- Log into my Social Security at ssa.gov/myaccount
- Use the wage reporting feature (for SSI)
- Report changes through your account
By phone:
- Call 1-800-772-1213
- TTY: 1-800-325-0778
- Hours: 8am-7pm local time, Monday-Friday
SSI Telephone Wage Reporting:
- Call 1-800-772-1213
- Select the wage reporting option
- Available 24/7
In person:
- Visit your local Social Security office
- Bring documentation of the change
By mail:
- Send written notice to your local SSA office
- Include your name, SSN, and details of the change
- Keep a copy for your records
4. Deadlines for Reporting
General rule: Report changes within 10 days of when they happen.
Specific deadlines:
- New job: Within 10 days of starting
- Income change: Within 10 days of receiving new pay
- Address change: Within 10 days of moving
- Resource change: Within 10 days (for SSI)
Monthly wage reporting: If you're on SSI and working, you may need to report wages monthly. SSA will tell you if this applies.
5. What Happens If You Don't Report
Failing to report changes can have serious consequences:
Overpayment: SSA pays you more than you're entitled to, then demands it back.
Benefit suspension: Your payments may stop until the situation is resolved.
Penalties: Intentional failure to report can result in penalties or fraud charges.
Recovery: SSA can withhold up to 10% of your monthly benefit (or more) to recover overpayments.
Important: Overpayments can take months or years to repay. It's much easier to report changes as they happen.
Tips for Staying Compliant
- Keep pay stubs and employment records
- Note dates when changes occur
- Report promptly—don't wait
- Keep copies of everything you submit
- Follow up to confirm SSA received your report
- Track your income with Purple
How Purple Helps
Purple makes it easier to track your income and stay compliant:
- See all deposits in one place
- Track your earnings over time
- Monitor your balance for SSI limits
- Keep records for reporting