Recipients of Social Security disability benefits may relocate to another state for healthcare access, connection to living family members, community support, or a better environment. If you receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or some form of Medicaid, you may want to understand if your monthly benefits payment will change once you relocate.
The changes to your monthly benefits payout depends on the program. In general:
- Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) does not change when you relocate because it is based on your work history.
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may change depending on state supplements or other state government benefits.
- Medicaid recipients must reapply for benefits in the new state into which they relocate, and eligibility requirements differ from state to state.
Below, we break down exactly how SSDI, SSI, and Medicaid benefits are affected when you move to another state and what steps to take to avoid interruptions.
SSDI vs SSI When Moving States
Social Security Disability Insurance and Supplemental Security Income have many differences regarding eligibility, funding and maximum payouts. Here is a brief summary of SSDI vs. SSI for people relocating to another state.
| Feature | SSDI | SSI |
| Program type | Federal insurance program | Needs-based federal + state program |
| Recipients | Individuals who can no longer work full-time due to disability. | Individuals who have disabilities or minimal income and resources. |
| Does it change from state to state? | No | Yes, depending on state supplements. |
| Funding Sources | Payroll taxes | General tax revenues |
| Medicaid impact | SSDI income affects Medicaid eligibility. | SSI recipients may automatically qualify for Medicaid, depending on the state. |
| Need to report a move? | Yes | Yes |
Social Security Disability Insurance payments do not change when you move to another state. Your SSDI payments are determined by work history and lifetime earnings, and are not dependent on where you live. Therefore, the same formula is used to calculate your SSDI benefits, regardless of where you live.
Supplemental Security Income payments may change when you relocate, depending on the state you move to and what state supplements will be provided to you.
Regardless of which Social Security disability benefits you receive, you must report your address change to the Social Security Administration. A failure to report a relocation may mean delays or interruptions in payments, suspension of benefits, or penalties for overpayments. Penalties may include reductions in SSI payments (typically $25-$100) for failure to report required changes.
Which States Supplement SSI Benefits?
Depending on where you live, state supplements to federal SSI benefits may increase the total SSI benefit you receive per month. Both federal SSI benefits and state supplements depend on your income, living arrangements and other factors determining your eligibility.
Not all states or territories provide a supplemental benefit to SSI payments. States with no SSI supplement include Arizona, Arkansas, Mississippi, North Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia, along with the territory of Northern Mariana Islands.
Some states have the Social Security Administration administer the state supplement. These include California, Hawaii, Montana, Nevada, New Jersey, and Vermont.
Some states pay and administer their own supplemental payments. You generally have to contact the state for SSI supplemental payment information. These states include Alabama, Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Florida, Georgia, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Virginia, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming.
The following states follow a dual administration system, in which the Social Security Administration administers some categories of supplemental benefits while the state administers the rest: the District of Columbia, Delaware, Iowa, Michigan, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island.
What Actually Changes When You Move to Another State?
The impact of moving depends on the type of benefits you receive and how your new state administers those benefits. When you relocate to another state, it can affect your monthly benefits, healthcare coverage, and how your case is administered. In some cases, temporary delays may also occur.
Your Monthly Benefit Amount
Your SSDI payments will generally not change upon relocation to another state. However, your SSI payments may vary based on state supplements, countable income, living arrangements and new household size.
Your Living Arrangements (SSI Only)
Your monthly SSI payment may change depending on your newfound living arrangements. When calculating your income, the Social Security Administration counts food and/or shelter that somebody else provides for you. This informal support is known as “in-kind support and maintenance.”
People are not considered to have in-kind support and maintenance if they pay for their own shelter or if they pay a share of the shelter expenses when living with other people. However, the Social Security Administration also considers who you live with and whether anyone outside your household helps pay for your shelter.
Your Healthcare Coverage (Medicaid)
You generally must reapply for Medicaid once you move to your new state. In most states, SSI recipients are automatically eligible for Medicaid, although some states apply additional eligibility requirements. Key differences include copay requirements, available doctors and clinics, and coverage of extra services such as dental, vision, prescription medications, certain non-emergency services and physical therapy.
Your Disability Case or Review
Your State Taxes Owed
Most states do not tax Social Security disability benefits, but a few states apply income-based taxation rules. How your SSDI or SSI payments get taxed depends on different state policies.
The following states only tax disability benefits if a recipient’s adjusted gross income is above certain limits: Colorado, Connecticut, Minnesota, New Mexico, Rhode Island, Utah and Vermont. Montana is the only state to tax disability benefits using the same method as the federal government.
A handful of states have no income tax whatsoever, and therefore do not tax SSDI by default: Alaska, Florida, Nevada, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Washington and Wyoming.
While SSDI benefits typically remain the same nationwide, SSI payments, Medicaid coverage, and certain state-level factors can change when you move.
What Happens to Medicaid When You Move States?
Your Medicaid does not automatically transfer from one state to another, nor can you receive Medicaid benefits from two states simultaneously. You must reapply for coverage in your new state. A state may fall under one of three categories for Medicaid policies with regard to SSI recipients, based on how states handle Medicaid enrollment for SSI recipients:
- 209(b) states: These states use Medicaid eligibility rules that are more restrictive than SSI criteria, although they cannot be more restrictive than the standards in place as of January 1, 1972. These states must also offer a “Medicaid spenddown” option that allows individuals to subtract incurred medical expenses from their countable income to meet eligibility levels.
- SSI criteria states: These states use SSI eligibility rules for Medicaid. However, the state makes the final eligibility determination. SSI applicants typically must file a separate Medicaid application.
- 1634 states: These states enter a “1634 agreement,” in which they request the Social Security Administration to make Medicaid eligibility determinations. These states generally provide Medicaid coverage to individuals who qualify for SSI. If you qualify for SSI in a 1634 state, you are often automatically eligible for Medicaid.
A major concern SSI recipients relocating to another state may have is that a gap in Medicaid coverage may leave them temporarily uninsured. You should apply for Medicaid as soon as possible after relocating to your new state. Federal law requires states to approve or deny Medicaid applications within 45 calendar days for most applicants, or 90 calendar days for applicants qualifying on the basis of disability.
Retroactive Medicaid may cover certain medical expenses incurred up to 90 days before your application date if you were eligible during that period. In most cases, Medicaid pays providers directly for covered services rather than reimbursing individuals. However, some states have received federal waivers to eliminate or limit retroactive coverage, so the availability and duration of this coverage can vary by state.
What Happens if I Move Abroad?
If you are a United States citizen, the question of receiving SSDI or SSI payments after moving abroad is fairly straightforward.
SSDI recipients with American citizenship may continue to receive payments while outside the United States, depending on the country where they reside. The Social Security Administration considers someone “outside the United States” if they are not within a state, territory or District of Columbia for at least 30 calendar days in a row.
Here are a few restrictions applicable to U.S. citizens receiving SSDI while living abroad:
- A U.S. citizen cannot receive Social Security payments while residing in Cuba or North Korea due to U.S. Treasury restrictions, but will receive withheld payments upon moving to a country where they can receive benefits.
- Certain payment restrictions may apply in some countries, such as Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan, unless you meet specific eligibility exceptions under Social Security rules. SSDI recipients in these cases can receive withheld payments upon moving to a country where they can receive benefits.
Otherwise, U.S. citizens may continue to receive SSDI payments while outside the United States if they remain eligible for payments generally.
Non-citizens experience greater restrictions to receiving SSDI payments while abroad. In addition to needing to be in a country where the Social Security Administration can send benefits, a non-citizen must follow strict limits on how long they can remain outside the United States and meet certain eligibility requirements.
To start, non-citizens may stop receiving payments after having been outside the United States for six consecutive calendar months. Once this happens, a non-citizen cannot receive payments until they return to the United States and stay for a full calendar month, from the first minute of the first day through the last minute of the last day. In addition, the Social Security Administration may ask you to prove that you were lawfully present during that month.
In most cases, these restrictions affect whether SSDI payments can be sent, not whether you remain eligible for benefits.
The rules for SSI recipients are far more restrictive. In general, you cannot receive SSI payments if you leave the United States for longer than 30 days. For the purposes of SSI, “outside the United States” also includes American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands. SSI payments are suspended after 30 consecutive days outside the United States and generally cannot resume until you return and remain in the U.S. for at least 30 consecutive days.
Eligibility rules can vary based on citizenship, residency status, and the country you move to, so it is important to confirm your situation with the Social Security Administration before relocating.
How to Report a Move to Social Security
SSI recipients are generally required to report changes by the 10th day of the month after the change occurs. For example, if you moved into a new residence on January 15, you must report the change by February 10. SSDI recipients must report changes as soon as possible, even though no specific deadline is imposed under federal regulations.
However, address changes must be reported promptly, regardless of which program you’re on.
You can report a relocation to the Social Security Administration by:
- Updating your contact information through your Social Security online account
- Calling 1-800-772-1213 (or TTY 1-800-325-0778)
- Visiting a local Social Security office to report the changes in person.
You should report your move as soon as possible. Failing to report a move in a timely manner can result in delayed payments, overpayments, or missed important notices from the Social Security Administration.
How we help after a move: National Disability Alliance
If you need assistance with your Social Security disability benefits shortly before or after a relocation, our advocates at National Disability Alliance can answer any questions you may have. If you have recently moved and still need to apply for SSDI or SSI benefits, our advocates can help you complete an application. Call us at 833-MY-DISABILITY for a free consultation.
