When you receive SSI or SSDI, you have an ongoing responsibility to keep Social Security informed about changes in your life. Failing to report can result in overpayments you'll have to repay, underpayments where you miss out on money you're owed, or even fraud charges in serious cases. Knowing what to report—and when—keeps your benefits accurate and protects you from problems down the road.
In this article, we'll cover:
- Changes SSI recipients must report
- Changes SSDI recipients must report
- Deadlines for reporting different types of changes
- How to report changes to Social Security
- What happens if you don't report
- Keeping records of your reports
Changes SSI Recipients Must Report
SSI benefits are based on your income, resources, and living situation, so almost any change in these areas needs to be reported. The general rule is: if it might affect your benefits, report it.
Income changes: Any changes in earned income (starting work, changing jobs, getting a raise, losing a job, changing hours). Any changes in unearned income (other benefits, pensions, gifts, interest, dividends). Any lump sum payments you receive.
Resource changes: Changes in bank account balances if they push you near or over the $2,000 limit. Receiving an inheritance, settlement, or other windfall. Buying or selling property, vehicles, or investments. Opening or closing bank accounts or other financial accounts.
Living situation changes: Moving to a new address. Changes in who lives with you. Changes in your housing costs or who pays them. Entering or leaving a hospital, nursing home, jail, or other institution.
Personal changes: Getting married, divorced, or separated. Having or adopting a child. Death of a spouse, child, or representative payee. Changes in citizenship or immigration status.
Other changes: Changes in school enrollment (if you're receiving student benefits). Changes in your disability or medical condition. Starting or stopping medical treatment. Travel outside the United States.
When in doubt, report. It's better to report something that turns out not to matter than to fail to report something that does.
Changes SSDI Recipients Must Report
SSDI rules are different because your benefits are based on your work history and disability status rather than your current income and resources. The key concerns are whether you're still disabled and whether you're working.
Work activity: Starting any work, even part-time, temporary, or self-employment. Changes in your work hours or pay. Stopping work. Any work activity during your Trial Work Period or Extended Period of Eligibility.
Medical changes: Improvement in your medical condition. Changes in your treatment or medications. Being able to do activities you couldn't do before.
Other income: Starting or stopping other disability benefits. Changes in workers' compensation. Changes in other government benefits.
Personal changes: Getting married or divorced (can affect family benefits). Death of dependents receiving benefits on your record. Changes in custody of children receiving benefits.
Administrative changes: Address changes. Direct deposit changes. Legal name changes.
SSDI recipients don't need to report resources or most income changes the way SSI recipients do—but work activity is critical to report because it directly affects your ongoing eligibility.
Reporting Deadlines
Different changes have different reporting deadlines, and the deadlines differ between SSI and SSDI.
SSI deadlines are strict: Most changes must be reported by the 10th of the month following the month the change occurred. If you start a new job on January 15th, you need to report it by February 10th. Income specifically must be reported every month if it changes.
SSDI deadlines are less precise: Social Security says to report changes "promptly" or "as soon as possible." For work activity specifically, report when you start working, and then provide periodic updates on your earnings. The sooner you report, the less chance of significant overpayments building up.
Immediate reporting required: Some changes need to be reported right away regardless of which program you're on. These include address changes (so your checks or communications aren't lost), starting work (for SSDI especially), going into or coming out of a hospital or institution, and arrest or incarceration.
How to Report Changes
Social Security gives you several ways to report:
Online: Create or log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov. You can report many changes directly through the portal, including address changes and direct deposit updates. For SSI recipients, wage reporting can be done through the SSI Mobile Wage Reporting app or the online wage reporting system.
By phone: Call Social Security at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778). Wait times can be long, so call early in the day and early in the week for shorter holds. Have all relevant information ready before you call.
In person: Visit your local Social Security office. You can find office locations at ssa.gov/locator. Some complex situations are easier to handle face-to-face.
By mail: Write to your local Social Security office with details of the change. Include your name, Social Security number, and contact information. Send it via certified mail so you have proof of delivery.
For SSI income reporting specifically: Use the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting system, the SSI Mobile Wage Reporting app, or report online through my Social Security.
What Happens If You Don't Report
Failing to report changes can have serious consequences.
Overpayments: If you receive more benefits than you're entitled to because you didn't report a change, Social Security will eventually find out and demand repayment. This could mean reduced benefits for months or years as they recover the overpayment, or a lump-sum repayment demand.
Underpayments: If a change should have increased your benefits but you didn't report it, you may have missed out on money you were owed. Social Security won't automatically know to pay you more.
Benefit suspension or termination: Failing to report work activity on SSDI can lead to loss of benefits. Failing to report resources on SSI that push you over the limit can end your eligibility.
Fraud charges: If Social Security believes you intentionally failed to report to receive benefits you weren't entitled to, you could face fraud charges. This can mean repaying all overpaid benefits plus penalties, being barred from receiving benefits for a period of time, and in serious cases, criminal prosecution.
Most problems from non-reporting are administrative headaches rather than fraud charges, but they're still painful to deal with. Proactive reporting is much easier than cleaning up after the fact.
Keeping Records of Your Reports
Always document your reports to Social Security. This protects you if there's ever a dispute about whether or when you reported something.
If you report by phone: Write down the date and time of your call, the name of the representative you spoke with, what you reported, and any confirmation number or reference number you're given.
If you report in person: Get a receipt or written confirmation. If you can't get one, write down the date, time, office location, and representative's name.
If you report by mail: Send it certified mail with return receipt requested. Keep a copy of what you sent.
If you report online: Print or screenshot the confirmation page. Save any confirmation emails.
Keep these records for at least several years. If Social Security later claims you didn't report something, your documentation can save you from significant problems.
Managing benefits is easier when your finances are organized. Purple helps you track income and resources so you know what to report—and gives you the records you need if questions ever arise.