Social Security and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments generally are not payable for months that an individual is confined to a jail, prison or certain other public institutions for commission of a crime. A person is not automatically eligible for Social Security or SSI payments when being released from prison or jail.
If you are receiving Social Security benefits and you have an outstanding arrest warrant for a crime that is a felony under the laws of the state in which you live, or a crime punishable by death or imprisonment for more than one year in states that do not classify crimes as felonies, you must notify Social Security immediately. An individual cannot receive disability benefits for any months in which there is an outstanding arrest warrant for a crime. If you are convicted of a crime, generally you are not entitled or paid for the months you are confined for a crime, however any family members who are eligible for benefits under your work will continue to receive those benefits.
An individual must notify Social Security if you violate a condition of probation or parole under state or federal law. An individual cannot receive disability benefits for any months where a violation occurs while on probation or parole. Please note that if Social Security finds an individual has provided false information on purpose, benefits will be stopped. Be sure to have your claim number ready when you call Social Security to report any changes for faster, more efficient service. If you receive benefits based on your own work, your claim number is the same as your Social Security number followed by the letters “HA.” If you receive benefits on someone else’s work, your claim number will be the other person’s Social Security number followed by a different letter. The award notice you received when your benefits started shows your claim number. You also should be prepared to give the date of the change, and, if different, the name of the person about whom the report is made.
