If you’re receiving Social Security benefits or Medicare and have recently moved, it is very important to notify SSA and change your address with Social Security. This needs to be taken care of right away in order to avoid a pause in your benefits.
Here’s why you should make changing your address with Social Security a priority:
According to The Social Security Administration (SSA), it is important that recipients of Social Security benefits update the SSA about a change in address.
This requirement is so important that the SSA has included it in their publication “What You Need to Know When You Get Retirement or Survivors Benefits“.
Here’s what the publication says:
“Even if you receive your benefits by direct deposit, Social Security must have your correct address so we can send letters and other important information to you. We’ll stop your benefits if we can’t contact you.”
As you can see, not updating your address with the Social Security administration could lead to a stop in your benefits if the SSA cannot reach you.
In this post, we will walk you through the three options you have to change your address with Social Security.
How To Change Your Address With Social Security
Here are the three options available to you for a Social Security Change of Address:
Option 1 – Online via Your Social Security Account
The first option you have to change your address with Social Security is to login online via your mySocialsecurity account as shown below.
Follow the step-by-step process outlined below:
If you do not have a mySocialSecurity account, see our post – How to create MySocialsecurity account to learn how to create one.
However, if you already have an account but need help logging in, including resetting your password, see our post on logging into mySocialSecurity online account.
Continue reading below to change your address with Social Security online.
Step 1. Visit the SSA Website
The first step is to login to your Social Security account. To do that, visit the Social Security Administration website.
You can access the website at https://www.ssa.gov/.
Step 2. Click the Sign In/Up Link
Next, once you are on the SSA website, click the “Sign In/Up” link located at the top-right of the page.
For help, please refer to the screenshot below.
Step 3. Access the mySocialSecurity Portal
Once you click the “Sign In” link, you will be taken to a new page where you can access the mySocialSecurity portal.
To go to the Login page, click the far mySocialSecurity box on the far left-hand side of the page.
Step 4. Enter your Username and Password
Once taken to the new page, you will see the Sign In portal, proceed by entering your mySocialSecurity account Username and Password. When complete, click the “Sign In” button.
Step 5. Agree to Terms of Service
Next, you will be taken to a page where you will be shown the “Terms of Service”.
You will have to agree with the terms of service to proceed.
Check the box and agree to the terms of service, then click on the “Next” button to proceed, as shown below.
Step 6. Visit your mySocialSecurity Account Homepage
If you’ve successfully entered your correct Username and Password, you should now be logged into your account.
You can now access your mySocialSecurity account homepage.
For the purposes of changing your address, click on “My Profile”, as shown in the image below:
Step 7. Change Your Address
Next, click on the “Update Contact Information” tab, as shown in the image below.
Step 8. Enter your New Address
Next, you will be taken to a page, like the one below where you can enter your new address.
Once you have entered your new address, you have the option to make the change effective “Today” or “On a later date”.
If you select “On a later date”, you will be given the option to pick a date to make your change of address effective.
You can also update your phone number if you need to.
Once you have completed adding your new address and deciding when you want it to be effective, click on the “Next” button as shown below.
Step 9. Review and Confirm Information
The final step in the process is to review the information you provided.
Once you have done that, you will be taken to a confirmation page.
The confirmation page is your indication that you have successfully completed the process to change your address with Social Security.
Option 2 – In-Person at Your Social Security Office
If you would rather speak to someone in person about changing your address with Social Security, another option is to visit your local Social Security office.
You should probably call your local office to find out their hours of operation and whether you need an appointment, especially due to COVID-19.
To locate the nearest Social Security office, click here.
Option 3 – By Phone with The Social Security Administration
Lastly, another way to change your address with Social Security is by phone.
It is best to call your local office since that will usually speed up the process.
To get the phone number locate the nearest Social Security office, click here.
Social Security Change of Address Video
The video below does a great job of explaining why it is important to notify the Social Security administration when you move or change your address.
It also walks you through the steps to change your address online, as we have explained above.
Does this also Change my Address with Medicare?
Yes, once you successfully change your address with the Social Security Administration, that automatically changes your address with Medicare.
How to Change Your Address With Social Security Summary
Here’s the bottom line:
If you are reiving Social Security benefits and have moved or you have a new address, you should notify Social Security right away.
Your benefits could stop if Social Security is unable to reach you by mail.
You can change your address with Social Security in three ways as explained above:
- Online using the mysocialsecurity account.
- In-person at your local Social Security office.
- Over the phone. We recommend that you call your local SSA office.
We hope this post on how to change your address with Social Security was helpful.
If you have further questions about Social Security or Disability benefits, please let us know in the comments section below.
Be sure to check out our other articles on Social Security, including 2021 Social Security Payment Calendar by Month, Is there Amazon Prime Discount for Seniors or AARP?, Social Security Disability Ticket to Work Program, and Replacement Social Security Card.