Why It’s Important to Tell Us About Changes When You Get Social Security Benefits

An elderly man talking on a mobile phone.

If you receive Social Security, you can help to make sure we pay you the right benefit each month. You can do that by telling us about relationship or other life changes that could affect your eligibility for retirement, survivors, or disability benefits – or your benefit amount.

You and your family may miss out on additional payments you may be due if you don’t report changes to us in a timely manner. Or you may be overpaid benefits and have to pay us back.

What you need to tell us

To make sure you are paid correctly and receive the payments for which you are eligible, let us know right away if:

How to report changes

We offer several ways to report changes:

If you get retirement, survivors, or disability benefits and need to update your address, phone number, or direct deposit, it’s easy to make those changes with your personal my Social Security account. Or you can use our automated telephone services.

Where to learn more

If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, you have extra reporting responsibilities. They are listed in our publication, What You Need to Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

Get the right check, in the right amount, at the right time, by reporting changes right away!

Please share this information with those who need it.