In many cases, adult children with special needs receive Social Security benefits. Parents of adult children with special needs often act as their children’s powers of attorney, guardians, and representative payees for Social Security benefits. Therefore, parents should understand the Social Security Administration (SSA) reporting requirements for individuals who receive Social Security benefits. These reporting requirements vary according to the type of Social Security benefits a person receives. However, compliance with reporting requirements is crucial for the adult child to continue receiving benefits and avoid potential problems with SSA, such as overpayments or underpayments.
General Reporting Requirements for SSA
Regardless of the type of Social Security benefits your adult child with special needs is receiving, SSA requires you to report certain information. A representative payee for an adult child with special needs is responsible for these reporting requirements. Some changes that you should always report to SSA for your adult child with special needs include changes in:
- Your child’s mailing address
- Your child’s direct deposit banking information
- Your child’s marital status, including marriage, divorce, and annulment
- Your child’s parental status, i.e., if they have a child
- Employment, including changes in rate of pay, changes in the number of hours worked, stopping employment, or starting employment, whether working as an employee or self-employed
- Incarceration status of the child, including incarceration for more than 30 continuous days or a warrant for a probation or parole violation that is outstanding for more than 30 days
- Country of residence, such as if your child leaves the U.S. for more than 30 continuous days
Reporting Requirements for Childhood Disability Benefits
Children who become disabled before age 22 and whose parents paid into the Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) program or receive Social Security benefits may be eligible for Childhood Disability Benefits (CDB), formerly known as Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits. In some cases, benefits are available through a grandparent’s earnings record when a child has no living parents.
As a result, many adult children with special needs may qualify for this form of SSDI benefits. However, there are eligibility restrictions for these benefits. For instance, an adult child typically must remain unmarried to receive CDB, although an exception exists in some cases when two adult children with disabilities marry.
Furthermore, individuals receiving CDB, or any SSDI benefits, may not engage in substantial gainful activity (SGA) to remain eligible for those benefits. The amount of income that constitutes SGA changes each year; for 2026, the SGA amount for non-blind individuals is $1,690 per month. In other words, a person receiving CDB can earn no more than $1,690 per month from working. If a person makes more than $1,690 per month, the SSA will consider them to have completed SGA and be eligible for CDB benefits.
Therefore, CDB – and SSDI – recipients must report their earnings from employment to SSA. In fact, they must report any changes in employment, including starting or stopping a job, changing the number of hours worked, and changing their rate of pay. Another reporting requirement is for these individuals to report any expenses for items or services that enable them to work or provide them with extra support to work because of their special needs.
Reporting Requirements for SSI
Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a means-tested disability income program that is for very low-income individuals with disabilities. Typically, these individuals do not qualify for any benefits through the SSDI program. Alternatively, there are circumstances in which individuals receive both SSI and SSDI benefits because they do not qualify for a sufficient SSDI benefit level.
SSI recipients are subject to stricter income and asset limits than CDB recipients. Since the amount of household income each month directly impacts the amount of SSI that an individual can receive, SSI recipients have additional reporting requirements, including the following changes:
- Living arrangements or household composition
- Earned or unearned income of anyone in the household
- Resources available to the individual, including assistance with living expenses received from friends or family members
- Eligibility for other benefits
- Admission or discharge to an institution
- School attendance (if under age 22)
Reporting Changes to SSA
You can report changes to SSA in various ways, including:
- Visiting the section “My Social Security” on our website at www.socialsecurity.gov
- Calling SSA toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 or TTY 1-800-325-0778; or
- Calling, visiting, or writing your local SSA office
SSA also has some automated wage reporting tools that you may be able to use to report changes in wages, including the SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System and the SSA Mobile Wage Reporting application. You can also sign up to receive a monthly email or text message from SSA that reminds you to submit wage changes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What happens if a representative payee forgets to report a required change to SSA?
If a required change isn’t reported, SSA may find an overpayment, reduce future benefits, or temporarily suspend benefits until the issue is corrected. In some cases, SSA may require repayment of excess funds even if the mistake was unintentional. Promptly correcting the oversight—by contacting SSA, submitting documentation, and explaining the circumstances—can help minimize consequences. Keeping a simple log of changes throughout the year makes it easier for representative payees to stay compliant.
Can an adult child with special needs report changes to SSA on their own, even if they have a representative payee?
Yes. SSA allows beneficiaries to report changes directly, but the representative payee remains legally responsible for ensuring that all required updates are submitted accurately and on time. Many families choose to involve the adult child in the reporting process when appropriate, as it builds independence and helps them understand how their benefits work. However, the payee should still verify that SSA receives the information and that the beneficiary’s record is updated correctly.
How can families keep track of income, expenses, and other information SSA may request during a review?
SSA periodically conducts reviews to confirm continued eligibility, and having organized records makes the process much smoother. Families often use a simple binder or digital folder to store pay stubs, benefit letters, receipts for disability‑related work expenses, and notes about changes in living arrangements or employment. Keeping documents in one place helps if SSA requests clarification during a redetermination or audit.
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Rubin Law is the only Illinois law firm to dedicate itself exclusively to providing compassionate legal services for children and adults with special needs. We offer unique legal and future planning techniques to meet your family’s individual needs.
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