Life Changes And Social Security: When You Need To Notify The Social Security Administration
If you've ever applied for Social Security benefits, you know that it can be a confusing process. Once you navigate through piles of paperwork and proceedings, it can feel pretty good to finally start receiving your benefits. But once you've received benefits, that doesn't mean the process is over. There are certain life events that could impact your benefits, and the Social Security Administration will need to know about these. Here's when you'll need to let the SSA know about a life change.
If someone dies
If someone who is receiving Social Security passes away, the SSA needs to be notified as soon as possible. It's understood that this can be a tough time for the family, so a relative doesn't have to make this call. Most of the time, this is handled by a funeral director. But if you're not working with a funeral home, you will need to make this call yourself. This isn't only important so that payments for the deceased can be stopped, but because dependents of the deceased may be eligible for their own payments.
If you have a child (through birth or adoption)
If you have a child while receiving Social Security benefits, that child may also be eligible for benefits. This applies to adoption too. If you're not receiving Social Security, but you adopt a child who is, that child can still receive benefits as long as you notify the SSA. If you're receiving spousal benefits for caring for a dependent child, and that child moves away for 30 days or more, you need to tell the SSA or you could risk losing benefits.
If you get married or divorced
A change in your marital status can affect your benefits if you're a widow or widower of a spouse that was receiving benefits. If you remarry, that could mean you longer receive those benefits. Divorce doesn't necessarily mean your former spouse's benefits will be terminated (that depends on how much the earned), but you will still need to let the SSA know if you remarry.
If your spouse receives Social Security and Railroad Retirement
Under most Social Security conditions, if your spouse is receiving benefits and that spouse passes away, those benefits come to you. But if your spouse receives both Social Security and Railroad Retirement benefits and passes away, only one of those will be transferred to you. The SSA will decide which one, but it usually is the one that's greater.
Trying to figure out Social Security benefits on your own can be tough. That's why it's often best to just trust the professionals. A Social Security attorney (such as one from R.J. Marzella & Associates, P.C.) has likely dealt with plenty of situations just like yours, and knows exactly how to make the process go as smoothly as possible. You're not only taking the stress off of you and your family, but making sure it gets done right the first time.