If you have a child that has qualified and receives Supplemental Security Income (SSI) due to conditions or impairments you should be aware that Social Security has specific guidelines of what parents have to report to Social Security. Because these benefits can change due to life’s circumstances it is important to keep Social Security up-to-date on all changes of circumstances to avoid an overpayment. If Social Security overpays a claimant (incorrectly provides more money than it is supposed to) Social Security does not pay the price the parent of a claimant will and be required to pay back any overpayment made. Below is a portion of the changes Social Security needs to be made aware of regarding child claims. As Social Security notes, a failure to report may result in overpayments that must be repaid and in “possible monetary penalties.
- You or any child changes the mailing address for check or residence. To avoid delay in receipt of checks you should also file a regular change of address notice with your post office.
- Any child’s citizenship of immigration status changes.
- Any beneficiary goes outside the United States for 30 consecutive days or longer.
- Any beneficiary dies or become unable to handle benefits.
- Work changes on your application you told us.
- Custody Change – Report if a child of whom you are filing, or who is in your care dies, leave your care or custody, or changes address.
- A child age 13 or older has an unsatisfied felony or arrest warrant for more than 30 continuous days for flight to avoid prosecution or confinement, escape from custody, or flight escape.
- A student, age 18 or over, stops attending school, reduces school attendance below full-time, changes schools or is paid by an employer to attend school.
- If the worker and stepchild’s parent divorce, benefits are not payable to the stepchild beginning with the month after the month the worker and the stepchild’s parent divorce. Promptly return any benefit payment received on behalf of the step children for the months after the month the divorce becomes final.
- The child is confined for more than 30 continuous days to jail, prison, penal institution or correctional facility for conviction of a crime or confined to a public institution by court order in connection with a crime.
- Change in marital status – marriage, divorce, or annulment of marriage. You must report marriage even if you believe that an exception applies.
How To Report Changes
You can make your reports by telephone, mail, or in person. Although Social Security typically allows for this it is important to note in-person reporting is not currently available. Social Security office remain mostly closed to the public for in-person service due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
If you are awarded benefits, and one or more the of the above changes occur you should report by:
- Visiting the section “My Social Security,” at socialsecurity.gov.
- Calling Social Security toll free at 800-772-1213.
- If you are deaf or hearing impaired, call toll free at 800-325-0778.
- Calling or visiting or writing you your local Social Security office at the phone number and address shown on your claim receipt.
