Question of the Month: Will Moving out of State Affect My Social Security Disability Claim?
July 4, 2023
Because the Social Security Disability benefits programs are administered by the federal government through the Social Security Administration, if you have filed a claim for disability benefits, you will not have to resubmit your claim when you move to another state.
Likewise, if you are already receiving benefits, moving to another state will not affect your eligibility for Social Security Disability. The approval of your benefits will carry over from one state to the next and you will not have to re-apply for benefits.
However, when moving outside your state or even within your state, you must notify Social Security of your new address and phone number. This is part of the over-arching requirement that you notify Social Security of certain life changes.
If you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) payments, you must also report if you start or stop work, and you must report any wages you earned through an employer or income received from self-employment.
If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments, in addition to reporting your address change, you must also report other changes. Common changes you must report to Social Security include:
- Change in income
- Change in resources (including bank accounts, vehicles or property)
- Change in employment (i.e., starting, stopping or changing jobs)
- Change of persons moving in or out of the household
- Entering or exiting a nursing home
- Entering or exiting a correctional institution (i.e., jail or prison)
- Change in U.S. citizenship or lawful non-citizen status
- Change in marital status
(For a complete list of SSI reporting requirements, read the Social Security’s blog post: Understanding Supplemental Security Income Reporting Responsibilities
Because SSI is a benefit program that is administered by the Social Security Administration but not funded by Social Security taxes, an interstate move could change part of your monthly benefits.
Most states make supplemental payments to SSI recipients from their tax receipts. These supplemental benefits are subject to the rules of individual states. Illinois is one of 44 states that offer additional benefits for SSI recipients. If your income does not meet minimum living expenses, the Illinois Department of Human Services (DHS) may award you an Aid to the Aged Blinded and Disabled (AABD) grant. Grant amounts are very modest and vary based on income and needs. The minimum payment is $1 and payments rarely exceed $70.
If you are moving to one of the 12 states or the District of Columbia which has the Social Security Administration administer their state supplemental payments, you will not have to reapply, but the supplemental benefit amount may change.
If you are moving to a state that administers its own supplemental benefits, you will need to apply for supplemental benefits in the new state. You may have to wait for an approval period before you start receiving them. If you are moving to one of the six states which does not offer supplemental benefits, you will not receive any supplement.
We are often asked if moving will prolong a disability case. The short answer: it depends. If your case is at the hearing level, moving will not generally have a noticeable impact on the timing of a case. However, if your case is pending at the initial or reconsideration levels of review, a move may prolong the review of your claim, as a new adjudicator in the new state will be assigned to your case.
Winning the disability benefits you have earned can be complex, confusing and difficult. But you can get expert help. Contact your local Chicagoland Social Security Disability Lawyers at Nash Disability Law today for a free evaluation of your unique situation.