Will my Social Security disability benefits change if I move to another state?

In 11 states (California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and Vermont) and the District of Columbia, Social Security administers some or all of the state supplement. In these locales, an application for SSI is also an application for the state payment. The remaining 33 states administer their own SSI supplements, and you need to apply to the state separately for the extra payment.

To find out more about states’ programs and benefit amounts, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or contact the state's department of human services or Medicaid agency.

Let SSA know

You must notify Social Security of a move, or any other changes in your personal or financial situation that could affect SSI benefits, no later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change happened. The SSA may levy a penalty of $25 to $100, in the form of a reduced benefit payment, for each failure to report.

If you are receiving SSDI or another Social Security benefit in addition to SSI, you can report a change of address by logging into your My Social Security account online. However, this option is not available if you are getting SSI alone or do not have a U.S. mailing address. (SSI recipients can check the address they have on file with Social Security online but not change it.) You'll need to call the SSA at 800-772-1213 or contact your local Social Security office to register the new address.

Keep in mind

• While the amount of your SSDI benefit does not change state to state, whether you pay income taxes on it could: Twelve states tax Social Security payments for at least some recipients. (That doesn't include SSI, which is not taxed anywhere.) Contact your state tax agency for details.
• If you have Medicaid as a result of receiving SSI, moving could affect your health coverage. While most states automatically grant Medicaid eligibility to SSI recipients, not all do, and Medicaid coverage varies state to state.
• Among U.S. territories, SSI is available only in the Northern Mariana Islands. Older, blind and disabled residents of Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Guam may receive benefits under a separate social-welfare program that pays lower amounts than SSI. American Samoa is not covered by such a federal program.