If you receive SSI or SSDI, you're required to report certain changes in your life to the Social Security Administration — and doing it on time matters more than most people realize. Late or missed reporting is one of the most common reasons people end up with overpayments, benefit suspensions, or even loss of eligibility. The rules can feel overwhelming, but once you know what to report and how to do it, staying compliant becomes manageable.
In this article, we'll cover:
- Why reporting changes matters so much
- What changes SSI recipients must report
- What changes SSDI recipients must report
- How quickly you need to report
- The different ways to report changes
- What happens if you don't report on time
Why Reporting Matters
Social Security uses the information you provide to calculate your benefit amount and determine your ongoing eligibility. When your circumstances change and you don't report it, you may continue receiving payments you're not entitled to. That creates an overpayment, which Social Security will eventually discover — and they'll want the money back.
Overpayments can lead to reduced future checks, collection efforts, or even legal consequences in severe cases. On the flip side, some changes might actually increase your benefits, and you'd miss out on that extra money if you don't report. Either way, timely reporting protects you.
What SSI Recipients Must Report
Because SSI is needs-based, the list of reportable changes is extensive. You need to let Social Security know about changes in income — if you start working, stop working, get a raise, or receive any new source of income including gifts and one-time payments. This includes income from any other person in your household whose earnings might affect your SSI amount.
Changes in resources are also reportable. If you open or close a bank account, receive an inheritance, acquire or sell property, or experience any significant change in your assets, Social Security needs to know.
Living situation changes matter too. Moving to a new address, having someone move in or out of your household, entering or leaving a care facility, or changes in how your housing costs are paid can all affect your SSI amount. If someone starts paying your rent or providing you with food and shelter, that's considered in-kind support and maintenance and can reduce your payment.
Changes in marital status — getting married, separated, or divorced — must be reported, as well as changes in your disability status, any time you leave the United States, or if you're convicted of a crime or have an outstanding warrant.
What SSDI Recipients Must Report
SSDI reporting requirements are less extensive than SSI's because SSDI isn't means-tested. The most important thing to report is work activity. If you start working, change jobs, or your earnings change, Social Security needs to know so they can determine whether you're within the Trial Work Period, the Extended Period of Eligibility, or potentially over the SGA limit of $1,690 per month.
SSDI recipients should also report changes in their medical condition — particularly if their condition improves. While it might feel counterintuitive to report improvement, failing to do so can lead to bigger problems if Social Security discovers it during a review.
Other reportable changes include going to prison or jail, leaving the country, getting divorced (if receiving benefits on a spouse's record), or the death of a family member receiving benefits on your record. If you become eligible for other government benefits like workers' compensation, those need to be reported as well since they can affect your SSDI amount through offset calculations.
How Quickly Must You Report?
For SSI recipients, changes should be reported by the 10th of the month following the month the change occurred. If you start a new job on March 15th, you should report it by April 10th. For SSDI recipients, the general rule is to report changes as soon as possible, ideally within the same month.
In practice, the sooner you report, the better. Early reporting reduces the chance of overpayments and shows Social Security that you're acting in good faith, which matters if questions about your compliance ever come up.
Ways to Report Changes
Social Security offers several ways to report changes. The most common is calling the national number at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778). You can also visit your local Social Security office in person, which is useful for complex situations or if you need to provide documentation.
Some changes can be reported through your my Social Security account online at ssa.gov, though online reporting options are more limited than phone or in-person options. For SSI recipients, wage reporting can sometimes be done through the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting system or the SSI Mobile Wage Reporting app.
Whichever method you use, keep a record of when and how you reported the change. Write down the date, the name of the representative you spoke with if applicable, and a summary of what you reported. This documentation protects you if there's ever a dispute about whether you reported on time.
What Happens If You Don't Report
Failing to report changes can result in overpayments that Social Security will seek to recover. For SSI recipients, this can mean reduced future payments as Social Security withholds a portion to recoup what you owe. In some cases, overpayments can reach thousands of dollars.
If Social Security determines that you intentionally withheld information, the consequences are more severe. You could face penalties — an additional reduction in your SSI payment for six, twelve, or even twenty-four months depending on whether it's a first, second, or third offense. In extreme cases, failure to report can be treated as fraud, which carries potential criminal penalties.
The reality is that most people who fail to report do so because the rules are confusing, not because they're trying to cheat the system. But Social Security doesn't always make that distinction easily, which is why staying on top of reporting is so important.
Staying compliant with Social Security's reporting rules protects your benefits and your peace of mind. Purple's checking account is built for benefit recipients, with features designed to help you keep track of changes that affect your SSI or SSDI.