Securing social security benefits is a process that extends far beyond the application stage. Even after an applicant has been approved for benefits and has started to receive their payments, there are still certain guidelines that must be followed if they want to continue to receive these payments, and these changes include more than changes to your income status and death.

If you are planning to file for social security benefits, or you or a loved one is currently receiving these benefits, make sure you know what life updates require you to communicate with the Social Security Administration or SSA.

If there is a change in your marital status, you must notify the SSA. What, if any, change in your benefit is dependent on the type of payments you receive. For Supplemental Security Income, or SSI, payments, the amount of your benefit is based largely on your financial resources, including income and assets.

When you marry, a portion of your spouse's income is factored into this equation to determine your new entitlement. Consequently, your payment amount could decrease or bottom out. If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance, or SSDI, payments based on your own status, it doesn't matter how much your spouse earns; your benefit amount will remain consistent.

However, if you receive SSDI payments based on someone else's status, such as a parent or ex-spouse, your benefits may be terminated. No matter how much your spouse makes or the type of payments you're receiving; it's always best to notify the Administration of this change.

If you bring a new child into the home and you have full, legal custody of the child, this is a noteworthy life change to update the SSA about for several different reasons. First, if you are currently receiving benefit payments, your child may also be eligible for their own payment.

Even if the child is not themselves disabled, a child under the age of 18, or no more than 19 years of age that is completing the 12th grade, may be entitled to benefit payments. This allowance is for natural and adopted children as well as stepchildren.

Second, if you adopt or gain custody of a child that currently receives benefits and you also receive benefits, this change will not result in a reduction of your benefits, but this is information you must relay to the SSA. As an added tip, any time a child who is receiving payments will be out of your care for an extended period, you also need to notify the SSA.

If you receive certain additional benefits, you are also required to notify the SSA of these payments, as there are certain benefit payments that you cannot receive while receiving social security disability payments. Railroad retirement benefits are one of the payments you cannot receive in addition to social security disability.

You will need to choose one or the other, so it's best to speak with someone who is knowledgeable enough to help you make the appropriate selection. Workers' compensation also falls under this umbrella.

Since the two benefits are entirely different programs, one will likely not cancel out the other, but the receipt of workers' compensation may impact the amount of the social security benefits you receive.

According to the guideline, if the amount of these two payments combined equals more than 80% of your previous income, your social security payments will be reduced to bring your total compensation under this 80% threshold.

Failure to relay information about these major changes in your life could result in suspension of your payments, and in some instances, an overpayment penalty could be applied to you. If you have questions about updating these changes, Green Disability Law is here to help you.

Facebook Twitter Google+ pinterest