Your ongoing reporting duties don't change in May 2025
Social Security has no special payment requirements that begin or end in May 2025. The rules you follow now — reporting work income, changes in living situation, and other life events — stay the same. If you're already receiving benefits, you continue to report the same things to the same office, on the same schedule you've been following.
The one thing that does change every year is the earnings limit for people who claim Social Security before their full retirement age and still work. That limit increases each January based on wage growth. For 2025, if you're under full retirement age for the entire year, Social Security withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above $23,400. If you reach full retirement age during 2025, the limit is $62,160 for earnings before the month you reach that age, with a $1-for-$3 withholding rate.
Beyond the earnings limit, your reporting duties remain what they've always been. You report changes; Social Security processes them; your payment adjusts if needed. Nothing about May 2025 specifically triggers new requirements.
Key Takeaways
- The earnings limit for 2025 is $23,400 if you're under full retirement age all year, and $62,160 if you reach full retirement age during 2025.
- You must report work income, changes in address or living situation, and changes in marital status to keep your benefits accurate.
- You report these changes through your Social Security account online, by phone, or in person at your local office — the same way you do now.
- If you earn more than the limit and don't report it, Social Security will discover the overpayment during their annual review and you'll owe the money back.
Reporting work income if you're under full retirement age
If you claim Social Security before reaching full retirement age and you work, you must report your earnings to Social Security. The earnings limit for 2025 is $23,400. If you earn more than that, Social Security withholds $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn above the limit.
You report earnings through your online Social Security account, by calling 1-800-772-1213, or by visiting your local Social Security office. You don't need to report earnings as they happen — you report them once a year, usually when you file your taxes. Social Security cross-checks your report against your tax return, so the numbers need to match.
If you're self-employed, you report net earnings (income minus business expenses). If you work for an employer, you report gross wages before taxes are taken out. The key is that Social Security counts the year you earn the money, not the year you receive it, so a bonus you earn in December 2025 counts toward your 2025 limit even if you don't receive the check until January 2026.
Changes in living situation and household composition
Social Security needs to know if you move, if someone moves in with you, or if your living arrangement changes in any way that affects how your benefits are calculated. This includes moving to a different state, moving in with family, entering a care facility, or any change in who pays for your food and shelter.
Report these changes through your online account, by phone, or in person. Social Security uses this information to verify you're still living in the United States (required for most beneficiaries) and to recalculate benefits if you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) along with Social Security. SSI payments depend on where you live and who lives with you, so changes matter.
If you move out of the country, you must report it when ready. Most people receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits can't receive payments while outside the U.S. for more than 30 days in a row, though there are exceptions for people from certain countries. Failure to report can result in overpayments you'll have to repay.
Changes in marital status and family composition
If you marry, divorce, or your spouse dies, you must report it to Social Security within 30 days. These changes can affect your own benefits and may create new benefits for your spouse or children. Social Security needs the official document — a marriage certificate, divorce decree, or death certificate — to process the change.
If you have children or grandchildren who may be may have access to to benefits on your record, report their birth or adoption. Children can receive benefits based on your Social Security record if they're under 19 (or 19 if still in high school full-time), or any age if they became disabled before age 22. Reporting these events promptly means the child's benefits start on time rather than months later.
If a family member who receives benefits on your record dies, report that death when ready. Social Security must stop their payments, and if the death isn't reported, the family member's account will continue to receive money that will later have to be repaid by whoever received it.
Medical changes if you receive disability benefits
If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) based on disability, you must report significant changes in your medical condition or treatment. This includes starting a new medication, stopping treatment, having surgery, or experiencing improvement in your condition.
You don't need to report every doctor's visit, but you do need to report changes that could affect whether your disability continues to meet Social Security's definition. Social Security periodically reviews disability cases and requests medical records from your doctors, so they'll discover major changes eventually — but reporting them yourself prevents overpayments and keeps your file accurate.
If you return to work and earn substantial income, report it right away. Social Security has a "trial work period" that allows you to test your ability to work without when ready losing benefits, but the rules are complex and depend on how much you earn. Reporting work income promptly ensures you understand how it affects your benefits.
How Social Security verifies what you report
Social Security doesn't take your word for reported changes. They verify earnings against your tax return and W-2 forms. They verify address changes against mail returned from your address. They verify marital status against state vital records. They verify work and medical treatment through periodic reviews and requests for documentation.
If you report something that doesn't match what Social Security finds in their records, they'll contact you to clarify. If you don't report something and Social Security discovers it during a review, they'll calculate how much you were overpaid and ask you to return the money. Overpayments can take years to recover, and Social Security can withhold future benefits to collect them.
The verification process is automatic and ongoing. You don't have to worry about Social Security forgetting to check — they cross-reference your reports against tax records, state records, and other government databases as a routine part of administering the program.
What happens if you don't report a required change
If you don't report a change and Social Security discovers it, the result is an overpayment. Social Security will recalculate what you should have received, determine how much extra you got, and send you a notice asking you to repay it. You can request a waiver of the overpayment if you can show you weren't at fault and repaying it would cause hardship, but waivers are difficult to obtain.
If you disagree with an overpayment notice, you can request reconsideration or appeal. The process takes months and requires documentation showing why the overpayment wasn't your fault. It's far simpler to report changes when they happen than to deal with an overpayment later.
Intentionally failing to report changes or providing false information can result in criminal charges for fraud. Social Security takes this seriously, especially for large overpayments. The civil and criminal consequences make reporting changes promptly the only sensible approach.
Where and how to report changes
You have three ways to report changes to Social Security: online through your account at ssa.gov, by phone at 1-800-772-1213, or in person at your local Social Security office. The online method is fastest — you can report most changes when ready and get confirmation right away. Phone reporting takes longer because you're waiting in a queue, but you can speak to someone who can answer questions. In-person reporting at your local office is useful if you need to bring documents or if you have a complex situation.
When you report a change, have your Social Security number ready and any documents that support the change — a marriage certificate, lease, pay stub, or medical records. Social Security will tell you what they need. Keep a record of when you reported the change and who you spoke to, in case there's a dispute later about whether you reported it.
If you use an online account, you'll receive a confirmation number. Write it down. If you call or visit in person, ask for the name of the person you spoke to and the date. These details help if you later need to prove you reported something on time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I have to report my earnings every month, or just once a year?
You report earnings once a year, typically when you file your taxes. Social Security will cross-check your report against your tax return. You don't need to report as you earn the money — one annual report is sufficient. However, if you expect to earn significantly more or less than usual, you can contact Social Security to discuss how it might affect your benefits.
What if I earn more than the limit and don't report it?
Social Security will discover the overpayment when they compare your reported earnings to your tax return. They'll recalculate your benefits, determine how much you were overpaid, and send you a bill. You'll owe the money back, and Social Security can withhold future benefits to collect it. Reporting the earnings yourself when they happen prevents this problem.
If I move to another country, do I lose my Social Security benefits?
Most people receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits cannot receive payments while outside the U.S. for more than 30 days in a row. There are exceptions for citizens of certain countries and for people who became disabled before age 22. You must report any move out of the country when ready. Contact Social Security before you leave to understand how your specific situation is affected.
How long does it take for a reported change to show up in my benefits?
straightforward changes like an address update can take effect when ready. Changes that affect your payment amount — like reporting work income or a change in marital status — typically take one to two months to process. Social Security will send you a notice explaining how the change affects your benefits. If you don't receive a notice within 60 days of reporting, contact them to confirm they received it.
Can I report changes through a representative or family member?
You can authorize someone to report changes on your behalf if you give them power of attorney or if they're your representative payee (someone Social Security appointed to manage your benefits). Otherwise, Social Security prefers to hear directly from you. If you're unable to report changes yourself due to illness or disability, contact your local Social Security office to discuss your options.