You, or Your Family Members, May Be Eligible for Increased Benefits
Our mission is to deliver Social Security services that meet the changing needs of the public.
It's not unusual for a benefit recipient's circumstances to change after they apply or became eligible for benefits. If you, or a family member, receive Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), certain life changes may affect eligibility for an increase in your federal benefits. For example, if your spouse or ex-spouse dies, you may become eligible for a higher Social Security benefit.
To find out if you, or a family member, might be eligible for a benefit based on another person’s work, or a higher benefit based on your own work, see the information about benefits on the Social Security website. You can also use the Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) to find out if you could get benefits that Social Security administers. Based on your answers to questions, this tool will list benefits for which you might be eligible and tell you more information about how to qualify and apply.
The questions and answers below are about a few of the life changes that could possibly increase your benefits.
Has your spouse or ex-spouse died?
If your spouse or ex-spouse has died, you may be eligible for a higher survivor benefit based on his or her work. The death of an ex-spouse may allow you to be eligible for a higher survivor benefit even if you are already receiving a survivor benefit on another spouse.
IMPORTANT: If you are receiving benefits, there are certain life events that you are required to report. For a complete list, please select the publication below that applies to the type of benefits you receive.
NOTE: Failure to report a change may result in an overpayment.
What You Need To Know When You Get Retirement Or Survivors Benefits
What You Need To Know When You Get Social Security Disability Benefits
(Pages 11-18)
What You Need To Know When You Get Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
(Pages 7-19)
Contacting Social Security
Our website is a valuable resource for information about all of Social Security's programs. There are a number of things you can do online.
In addition to using our website, you can call us toll-free at 1-800-772-1213. We treat all calls confidentially. We can answer specific questions from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Monday through Friday. Generally, you’ll have a shorter wait time if you call during the week after Tuesday. We can provide information by automated phone service 24 hours a day. (You can use our automated response system to tell us a new address or request a replacement Medicare card.) If you are deaf or hard of hearing, you may call our TTY number, 1-800-325-0778.
We also want to make sure you receive accurate and courteous service. That is why we have a second Social Security representative monitor some telephone calls.
Related Information
- Retirement Planner
- Disability Planner
- Survivors' Planner
Understanding SSI Home Page / Understanding Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Overview SSI stands for Supplemental Security Income. Social Security administers this program. We pay monthly benefits to people with limited income and resources who are disabled,
blind, or age 65 or older. Blind or disabled children may also get SSI. Many people who are eligible for SSI may also be entitled to Social Security benefits. In fact, the application for SSI is also an application for Social Security benefits. However, SSI and Social Security are different in many ways.SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME (SSI) OVERVIEW
WHAT IS SSI?
HOW IS SSI DIFFERENT FROM SOCIAL SECURITY BENEFITS?
- be either a U.S. citizen or national, or a qualified alien;
- reside in one of the 50 States, the District of Columbia or the Northern Mariana Islands; and
- not be absent from the U.S. for a full calendar month or 30 or more consecutive days.