When you file a claim for Social Security disability, the Social Security Administration will inform you that you must report any changes that could affect your claim or your family members’ disability claims and any changes to benefits if you have already been approved for Social Security disability.
The most important thing is to report when and if you return to work, even if it’s only a few hours per week or a small amount of money. Working can impact your medical eligibility and earned income can lower any Supplemental Security Income (SSI) you may be eligible for.
There are also other changes that can impact your eligibility for Social Security disability programs. Believe it or not, getting married can impact Social Security disability benefits. Now, someone eligible for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits will not be impacted by their spouse or their spouse’s income because SSDI is based on the applicant’s earnings and what they’ve paid into Social Security. Because SSI is a needs-based program, getting married and household income does impact eligibility. Social Security will do calculations based on income and assets to determine if an SSI applicant is technically qualified for SSI, even before a disability determination is issued.
You should also report any contact information changes to Social Security. If you move, especially to a new state, it will impact which Social Security office is in charge of processing your claim. It can also affect crucial portions of your claim because if Social Security is unable to reach you, you may miss important appointments the agency has setup for you or relevant correspondence. As long as you keep up and inform Social Security of changes related to your situation, you will ensure that Social Security has the most up to date information available to make decisions.
