Will my Social Security Disability Benefits change if I move to another state?
Moving to another state can introduce a lot of changes:
- Cost of living
- Distance to loved ones
- Cultural difference
- And possibly much more…
You are not alone. Moving to another state is more common than ever!
Beyond the changes listed above, your disability benefits may see adjustments as well…
If you are disabled and receiving Social Security Disability Income (SSDI) or receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), asking about your benefits should be a top priority!
If you haven not already done so, consider a Free Online Disability Case Evaluation to get you started. This will help you answer questions related to your benefits.
Receiving disability benefits assistance through the help of legal professionals can help you put your mind at ease.
If you are receiving disability income, you can be confident that wherever you plan to move in the United States, your Social Security retirement, disability, family, or survivor benefits should not change.
You are not limited to the 50 States!
If the District of Columbia (Washington DC), Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands, American Samoa or the Northern Marian Islands are on your list of places to move- the income benefit should not change.
If you have not had a chance to apply for disability benefits, you can complete a free disability benefits case evaluation online at BenefitsClaim.com.
Do my disability benefits simply transfer or adjust from state to state?
The short answer= YES!
Not surprisingly, it’s not that simple. Because both Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) are federal programs and under the management of the Social Security Administration, you can be assured that your benefits will remain the same from state to state. However, depending on which benefits you receive, they may be adjusted upon the transfer from state to state.
- Click here to learn more about the differences between SSDI and SSI
If you are receiving disability benefits assistance, specifically SSDI, this benefit will remain the same no matter the state in which you live. If you are already receiving SSI, you will note that some states will offer an additional amount of assistance. This is called a “state supplement.”
Most states offer this supplement, however, the four states that do not offer any state supplement are Arizona, Mississippi, North Dakota, and West Virginia. If you move from one of these four states into another, you are now eligible to the state supplement that the new state offers. It doesn’t hurt to check out Cost-Of-Living Adjustment (COLA) while you’re at it!
While each of the other states do offer a supplement, there are specific criteria for each state.
For example, some states only give a supplement if you live in a nursing home facility while others simply do not have that requirement for the supplement.
Another factor that may create an adjustment in your SSI would be if your living circumstances change.
For example, if you lived independently in one state, then upon moving to your new state, live with others who help with the living expenses such as housing and food, your benefits could be adjusted.
When you do move, you will no longer receive a state supplement from the state you depart.
While moving is certainly stressful, start early by researching the disability claim application process in your state.
Report Your Move to the Social Security Administration
In addition to planning the move and change of address forms, remember you must report your move to the Social Security Administration.
You do not have much time, so make this a priority! If you are receiving SSI, you must report a change in living arrangements within 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred. Failure to follow this timeframe could result in being underpaid, or simply not receiving the benefits due to you.
On some occasions, there may be an overpayment (meaning that you received more than you are supposed to receive). Be sure to report this as you will be required to repay this amount; the SSA may also penalize you if you fail to report a change!
“We may overpay you and you may have to pay us back. We may apply a penalty that will reduce your SSI payment by $25 to $100 for each time you fail to report a change to us, or you report the change later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred.
If you knowingly make a false or misleading statement or knowingly fail to report important changes, we may impose a sanction against your payments. The first sanction period is a withholding of payments for 6 months. Subsequent sanction periods are for 12 months and then 24 months.”
Bottom line is that everything needs to be reported, so that accurate records can be kept.
Accurate reporting= accurate benefits provided.
If at any time you need benefits assistance, BenefitsClaim.com may be able to put you in touch with the right people.
