The Basics
If your child gets benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System (AHCCCS) coverage, you and your child need to follow the reporting rules so that there are no problems.
Fortunately, the rules are pretty simple. Your child just needs to make sure that all benefits programs know about his or her:
- Earnings from work
- Unearned income
- Resources, and
- Living situation.
If your child is under 18, SSI and AHCCCS may also need to know about these for you, your child’s other parent, and your child’s siblings who are less than 18 years old.
How Your Child Can Keep Benefits Up-to-Date
- Keep good records. Your child should keep a copy of all pay stubs, bank statements, benefits letters, and so on. A good idea is to keep all of these records in a binder, so that nothing gets lost. Even if there’s been no change in your child’s income, living situation, or benefits, your child should have these records on hand in case a benefits program wants to review them.
- Report all changes to the appropriate agencies. For SSI, your child should report changes to Social Security. For AHCCCS, your child should report to the DES/Family Assistance Administration office.
- Follow any additional instructions. Sometimes a county caseworker or Social Security claims representative will ask your child to give other information. For example, they might ask for documentation of Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWEs) or proof that your child is in school.
If your child does not report changes, his or her SSI benefit might not be as high as it should be. Or, SSI might send too much, which is called an overpayment. If that happens, your child might have to repay the SSI overpayment.
If AHCCCS pays for health care when it shouldn’t have been covered, your child might have to reimburse AHCCCS for the cost of doctor’s visits and other medical services.
Learn more
Reporting Changes to SSI
If your child gets Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits, any changes in his or her earned income, unearned income, resources, or living arrangements must be reported to the local Social Security office. Living arrangements include where your child lives and if he or she is paying a fair share of housing expenses, such as rent and utilities.
If your child is under 18, you and your child’s other parent must also report any changes in your earned income, unearned income, and resources.
Changes should be reported during the first 6 days of the month after the change. They can be reported:
- In person or by phone with your local Social Security office.
- By mail to your local Social Security office. Write “Attention: SSI” on the envelope to make sure it goes to the right place.
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You can also check with Social Security if you can report earnings with:
- The SSI Telephone Wage Reporting System at 1-866-772-0953
- The SSI Mobile Wage Reporting Application available in the Google Play or Apple App stores, or
- The my Social Security online wage reporting tool.
To find the best way to report earnings, talk to the local Social Security office or to a Work Incentive Consultant.
Tip: Some people report their earned income every month, even when the amount doesn’t change. That way, they know their benefits will always be up-to-date. Your child can sign up to get a monthly reminder to report earnings.
The amount your child gets in SSI benefits this month is generally based on how much income was reported two months ago. For example, the amount your child gets in July is based on the income reported for May.
Learn more
Reporting Changes to AHCCCS
If your child has AHCCCS coverage, he or she needs to report any changes in earned income, unearned income, and living arrangements within 10 days of the change. You and your child's other parent must also report changes if you live with the child and your child either gets income-based AHCCCS coverage or is under 18.
How to report changes depends on how your child qualifies for AHCCCS:
- If your child gets Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits or qualifies for SSI 1619(b), he or she only has to report to the local Social Security office.
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If your child doesn't get SSI, there are a few different ways to report:
- Online using either Health-e-Arizona Plus or MyFamilyBenefits
- Over the phone with the local DES/Family Assistance Administration office or by calling 1-855-777-8590
- By filling out the Change Report form and submitting it in person, by mail, or by fax to the local DES/Family Assistance Administration office
- If your child has AHCCCS Freedom to Work coverage, then he or she needs to report using Health-e-Arizona Plus or by calling 1-855-432-7587 or 1-602-417-5010.
For Nutrition Assistance (formerly Food Stamps) and TANF Cash Assistance, you and your child should report changes to the local DES/Family Assistance Administration office or online using either Health-e-Arizona Plus or MyFamilyBenefits.
Learn more
Next Steps
Learn More on DB101
Use DB101’s School and Work Estimator to get a sense of how work could impact your child’s benefits.
For more about benefits programs and their rules, read DB101’s articles about:
- Benefits for Young People, including details about many different benefits and how rules change as your child gets older.
- Supplemental Security Income, which covers SSI’s rules in detail.
- Income-based AHCCCS, which covers people with and without disabilities.
- Disability-based AHCCCS, another way people with disabilities may qualify for AHCCCS coverage.
- Building Your Assets and Wealth, an introduction to asset-building strategies.
- Plans to Achieve Self-Support, an in-depth look at the ways a PASS can help.
- Individual Development Accounts, a detailed look at IDAs and how to set them up.
Benefits and Work Incentives Consulting Services
If you're currently on SSI, SSDI, or CDB benefits, and you're looking for a job, you should qualify for free benefits consulting services. Trained Work Incentive Counsultants at Benefits 2 Work Arizona can help you understand Social Security work incentives, disability benefit programs, and how they are impacted by work. Their goal is to help you avoid complications while developing a sustainable financial plan for your future.
You can contact Benefits 2 Work Arizona at 1-866-304-WORK (9675) toll-free to find a Work Incentive Consultant serving your community.
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