Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-- Reporting Responsibilities (2024)

FAQs

Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI)-- Reporting Responsibilities? ›

WHAT THINGS MUST YOU REPORT TO SOCIAL SECURITY? Change of address. Change in living arrangements. Change in earned and unearned income, including a change in wages or net earnings from self-employment, including your spouse's income if you are married and living together, and parents' income if applying for a child.

For Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), you must tell Social Security right away if: You start or stop work. You reported your work, but your duties, hours, or pay change; or. You start paying expenses for work because of your disability.

Answer: Social security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor and disability benefits. They don't include supplemental security income (SSI) payments, which aren't taxable.

The SSI Program is a federally funded program which provides income support to eligible individuals who are aged 65 or older, blind or disabled. SSI benefits are also available to qualified blind or disabled children. The SSP Program is the state program which augments SSI.

The Social Security 5-year rule refers specifically to disability benefits. It requires that you must have worked five out of the last ten years immediately before your disability onset to qualify for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).

SSI is generally for individuals who don't earn more than $1,971 from work each month. The income limit increases for couples and when parents apply for children. We also look at other sources of income besides your job, like disability benefits, unemployment, and pensions.

As we explain in this blog post, SSI can check your bank accounts anywhere from every one year to six years, or when you experience certain life-changing experiences. The 2022 maximum amount of available financial resources for SSI eligibility remains at $2,000 for individuals and $3,000 for couples.

Report wages each month by app or by phone

You can submit your wages using the SSA Mobile Wage Reporting App, available in the Apple App Store or Google Play. Automated telephone wage reporting is also available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call +1 866-772-0953.

Supplemental income tax is assessed on supplemental wages (e.g., bonuses, commissions, etc.). The federal supplemental withholding tax is 22%. The supplemental income tax is not in addition to standard income tax rates. Instead, you use the supplemental rate in place of the standard withholding rate.

What changes should I report to SSI? ›

Change in marital status (including any same-sex relationships). Change in citizenship or immigration status. Change in help with living expenses from friends or relatives. Eligibility for other benefits or payments.

SSI considers “income” anything a person receives that can be used for food or shelter. Income includes but isn't limited to cash, checks, and “gift” items received, such as food and shelter. SSI divides income into 2 categories — earned and unearned.

Under the final rule, beginning September 30, 2024, the agency will no longer include food in ISM calculations. The new policy removes a critical barrier for SSI eligibility due to an applicant's or recipient's receipt of informal food assistance from friends, family, and community networks of support.

Social security benefits include monthly retirement, survivor and disability benefits. They don't include supplemental security income (SSI) payments, which aren't taxable.

If you intentionally withhold information to continue to receive payments, you may face criminal prosecution. Criminal penalties can include fines and imprisonment. For more information about what you must report, go to our Representative Payee Program page or read our A Guide for Representative Payees publication.

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

A payee's main duties are to use the benefits to pay for the current and future needs of the beneficiary, and properly save any benefits not needed to meet current needs. A payee must also keep records of expenses.

The taxable portion of the benefits that's included in your income and used to calculate your income tax liability depends on the total amount of your income and benefits for the taxable year. You report the taxable portion of your social security benefits on line 6b of Form 1040 or Form 1040-SR.

Be honest: Answer every question honestly and provide as much detail as possible. Be specific: Describe specific examples of how your disability limits you, both physically and mentally. Be consistent: Don't contradict other answers you've given on the form or in your application.

Typically, when the SSA decides to start an investigation, they will have an investigator follow you at your Consultative Exam. The people who follow you are not police officers. The reason the SSA may spy on you at your Consultative Exam is that they know you will be at the exam.