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

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:

You get married or divorced.
Your spouse or former spouse dies.
You become the parent of a child (including an adopted child).
The child (or stepchild) who gets benefits on your record gets married.
The child (or stepchild) who gets benefits on your record no longer lives with you. Note: We will need the name and address of the person with whom the child is living.

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

For a complete list of your reporting responsibilities, please refer to our publications, What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits or What You Need to Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits.

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.