Will my son's SSI disability benefits change if we move states and my income situation changes?
My 12-year-old son just started receiving SSI disability benefits last month. Such a relief! His payment amount is based on our household income (my husband works full-time while I'm home caring for our son). We're currently living in Texas, but I'm planning to relocate to Georgia with my son while my husband stays in Texas. I have so many questions about how this will affect his benefits: 1. How do I properly report our interstate move to SSA? Will his benefit amount change when we move from Texas to Georgia? 2. My husband will continue sending us support money, and I'll need to find part-time work in Georgia. How will these two income sources affect my son's SSI payment? 3. I've heard conflicting information about income limits - someone mentioned $4,200 monthly? Is there a specific threshold where his benefits stop completely? 4. If they determine we're over the income limit, will SSA request repayment of his back payments? Sorry for the scattered questions, but I'm trying to plan carefully before making this move. His SSI helps tremendously with his special needs, but I need to understand what changes to expect!
29 comments


Luca Russo
The most important thing is to report your changes to SSA immediately when they happen. For SSI (unlike SSDI), each of these changes can affect your son's payment amount: 1. The interstate move must be reported within 10 days. Moving states doesn't automatically change the benefit amount, but different states have different supplemental payments that might apply. 2. Both income sources will affect the SSI payment. Your husband's support will count as income to your son (reduced by certain exclusions). Your new earnings will also count, but with different exclusions because it's earned income. 3. There isn't a single "cutoff" amount like $4,200. SSI uses complex calculations that depend on whether income is earned/unearned, who receives it, and what exclusions apply. Generally, for every $2 your son's countable income increases, his SSI decreases by $1. 4. If they determine an overpayment occurred, yes, they can request repayment.
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NebulaNinja
•Thank you for explaining! Is there a specific form I need to complete for the move? And when you say my husband's support will count as income - does that mean child support or just any money he sends us? We aren't legally separating yet, just living apart.
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Nia Wilson
Oh honey be SUPER CAREFUL with this!!! My nephew lost his SSI when my sister didn't report income changes fast enough and they wanted EVERYTHING back! The income rules are STRICT and they watch every penny. You'll definitely need to report the move AND the separate addresses AND any child support. It's not just a simple formula - they have these complicated worksheets where they count some money but not other money. If your husband is still legally married to you, I think they still count his income even if your seperated!!
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NebulaNinja
•That's exactly what I'm worried about! Did your sister have to repay a lot? I'm trying to figure out if it's better to just stay put until we figure out the legal side of everything.
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Mateo Sanchez
You need to report several distinct changes to SSA: 1. Change of address (Form SSA-8150 or through your my Social Security account) 2. Household composition change (your husband no longer living with you) 3. Any new income you receive 4. Any support payments from your husband For SSI, they'll recalculate the benefit based on these factors. The most significant change will be your household composition, as your husband's income may no longer be deemed to your son once you're maintaining separate households. However, any direct support he provides will count as unearned income to your son (after a $20 general exclusion). As for your work income, SSI has several exclusions for earned income: - First $65 of earnings per month (plus any unused portion of the $20 general exclusion) - 50% of remaining earnings So you can work part-time without eliminating the benefit completely. The key is reporting everything promptly and accurately.
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Aisha Mahmood
•wait I thought SSI had a $2000 asset limit too? does that still apply if parents are separated?
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Ethan Clark
When i moved from AZ to NM with my disabled daughter they were actually really helpful at the ssa office. Just make sure u bring ALL the paperwork - lease for new place, any seperation papers, work stubs, everything! They reduced her payment when i started working but didnt stop it completely.
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NebulaNinja
•That's good to hear! Did you have to make an appointment with the local office in your new state, or did you handle it through the original office before moving?
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AstroAce
I recently helped my brother navigate SSI changes when he moved states with his disabled son. The most frustrating part was actually getting through to someone at Social Security to report all the changes! I spent hours on hold and got disconnected multiple times. Finally found a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got us through to an agent in under 5 minutes. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. Totally worth it when you have complex changes to report like yours - moving states, household composition changes, and new income situations all at once. My advice is to get everything documented before the call - exact move date, new address, your husband's contribution amount, and your expected work income. SSA will recalculate the SSI payment with all these factors.
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NebulaNinja
•Thanks for the tip! I've heard the hold times can be ridiculous. I'll check out that service since I'll definitely need to speak with someone directly about all these changes.
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Yuki Kobayashi
My sons on SSI to and when we moved they adjusted his payment amount. Each state has different payment amounts for SSI so it might go up or down depending on georgia's rates. The income thing is super confusing but they do count child support as income to your kid. theres also resource limits of $2000 for your kid dont forget about that part.
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Mateo Sanchez
•You're right about the state differences. Georgia doesn't have a state supplement for SSI like some other states do. So the federal payment rate would apply, which is $943/month for 2025 for an eligible child (assuming no countable income).
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NebulaNinja
Thank you all so much for the helpful responses. I'm going to make a list of everything I need to report and make sure I have documentation ready. I'm a bit worried now about how my husband's financial support will impact things since it's not formal child support yet. It sounds like I need to be really careful about tracking all money he sends us. One more question - does anyone know how quickly the payment amount changes after I report everything? Will they adjust it for the next payment or is there a lag?
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Luca Russo
•There's typically a processing lag. Changes reported today usually affect the payment two months later. For example, if you report changes in March, your May payment would reflect the new calculation. That's why prompt reporting is essential - to avoid potential overpayments that would need to be repaid later.
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Aisha Mahmood
has anyone moved from texas to georgia specifically??? my cousin did this last year and theres no state supplement in georgia so the payment went down by like $70/month just fyi
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Ethan Clark
•texas dosent have a state supplement for SSI either so the payment should stay the same federal amount
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Nia Wilson
I just remembered something important! If you're moving states make SURE you research medicaid too! SSI usually comes with medicaid but each state runs it differently and you don't want ANY gaps in coverage for your son!!
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NebulaNinja
•Oh that's a really good point I hadn't even thought about! I'll need to look into Georgia's Medicaid program right away. My son has several specialists and ongoing treatments we can't interrupt.
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CosmicCadet
I've been through something similar with my daughter's SSI when we had family changes. A few additional things to keep in mind: 1. **Document everything** - Keep detailed records of all money your husband sends, even if it's informal support. SSA will ask for specifics during reviews. 2. **Consider timing** - Since you just started receiving benefits last month, you might want to get through at least one full review period before making major changes. This could help establish a baseline. 3. **Georgia-specific resources** - Contact Georgia's Department of Human Services early to understand their Medicaid application process and any state-specific disability services your son might qualify for. 4. **School considerations** - Don't forget to research special education services in your new Georgia district. Continuity of educational support is just as important as the financial benefits. The income calculations can be complex, but generally speaking, if your husband's support plus your part-time earnings stay reasonable, your son should continue receiving some SSI benefit. The key is being proactive and transparent with all reporting. Good luck with your move - it sounds like you're being very thoughtful about planning this transition!
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Harper Thompson
•This is such comprehensive advice, thank you! The timing consideration is really smart - I hadn't thought about waiting through a review period first. That might give me a better understanding of how everything works before adding more complexity. The school district research is also crucial since my son has an IEP. I'm definitely going to reach out to Georgia's Department of Human Services before we make any final decisions. It's reassuring to hear from someone who's navigated similar changes successfully!
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Jessica Nolan
I went through a very similar situation when I moved from Florida to North Carolina with my disabled son about 3 years ago. Here are some practical tips based on my experience: **Before you move:** - Call SSA at least 30 days before your planned move date to start the paperwork process - Request a written confirmation of all changes you're reporting - Ask specifically about Georgia's Medicaid waiver programs for children with disabilities - they might have services Texas doesn't offer **About the income reporting:** - Any money your husband sends will count as "unearned income" to your son, even if you're still married but living separately - Keep detailed records with dates and amounts - I used a simple spreadsheet that saved me during reviews - Your part-time work income will be treated more favorably due to earned income exclusions **The reality check:** - My son's SSI payment did decrease when I started working, but we actually came out ahead financially because of the earned income exclusions - The move itself was smooth once I had all the documentation organized - Georgia's Medicaid program ended up being better than Florida's for my son's specific needs One thing nobody mentioned yet - consider calling your son's current doctors to see if they have colleagues they can refer you to in Georgia. Maintaining continuity of care made our transition so much easier. You're being smart to plan ahead! Feel free to ask if you have specific questions about the actual moving process.
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Danielle Mays
•This is incredibly helpful, thank you Jessica! The 30-day advance notice tip is something I definitely need to do. I'm curious about your comment regarding Georgia's Medicaid being better than Florida's - what specific differences did you notice? My son needs occupational therapy, speech therapy, and regular neurology visits, so understanding the service coverage differences would be really valuable. Also, did you have any issues with the income calculations when you were both working and receiving support? I'm trying to get a realistic picture of what our monthly SSI amount might look like after all the changes.
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Miguel Harvey
I'm new to navigating SSI with my disabled child, but I've been researching a lot since we might face a similar situation soon. From what I've learned, the key thing is that SSI is based on "countable income" which has specific exclusions that can work in your favor. For your situation, the household composition change (your husband no longer living with you) might actually help because they won't "deem" his income to your son anymore. However, any support money he sends will still count, but only after they apply the $20 general income exclusion first. The earned income exclusions for your part-time work are pretty generous - they exclude the first $65/month plus half of everything above that. So if you earned $500/month, only about $217 would count toward reducing the SSI. One thing I'd suggest is calling SSA and asking them to walk through a hypothetical calculation with your expected income amounts. They can give you a ballpark figure before you make the move, which might help with your decision-making. Also, definitely look into Georgia's TEFRA/Katie Beckett waiver program if your son needs ongoing medical care. Some states have better coverage for children with disabilities than others.
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Giovanni Gallo
•This is really helpful information, especially the breakdown of the earned income exclusions! I hadn't realized the calculations could be that specific. The idea of calling SSA for a hypothetical calculation is brilliant - that would definitely help me feel more confident about the financial impact before making the move. I'll also look into Georgia's TEFRA/Katie Beckett waiver program you mentioned. It's reassuring to hear from someone else who's been researching this thoroughly. Do you happen to know if there's a specific department or person at SSA who handles these types of "what if" scenarios, or should I just call the general number?
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Keisha Brown
I'm going through a similar situation and wanted to share what I've learned from my disability advocate. When dealing with interstate moves and SSI, there are a few crucial timing considerations: **Report the move in phases:** 1. First report your change of address and that your household composition is changing (husband no longer in household) 2. Once you're established in Georgia and start working, report your employment separately 3. Report any support payments from your husband as they occur **Income impact breakdown:** - The good news: Once your husband isn't living with you, they stop "deeming" his full income to your son - The challenge: Any money he sends becomes "unearned income" subject to the $20/month exclusion only - Your work income gets much better treatment with the $65 + 50% exclusion rule **State-specific considerations:** - Georgia doesn't have a state SSI supplement, so you'll get the federal rate ($943/month for 2025) - Georgia's Medicaid program has some excellent autism and developmental disability waivers - Look into the Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) for additional support services One thing that really helped me was creating a monthly budget worksheet showing SSA exactly how much support to expect and when. This prevented any surprises during reviews. The transition can feel overwhelming, but many families find they're actually better off financially once everything settles, especially with Georgia's lower cost of living compared to many Texas areas.
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Hugo Kass
•This phased reporting approach makes so much sense - I was worried about trying to report everything at once and creating confusion. The timing breakdown you provided is really helpful, especially separating the household change from the employment reporting. I'm particularly interested in what you mentioned about Georgia's DBHDD services. My son has autism and we've been working with early intervention services in Texas, so knowing there might be additional support available in Georgia is encouraging. Did your advocate help you navigate the application process for those state services, or is that something you handled separately from the SSI changes? Also, I love the idea of the monthly budget worksheet - that sounds like it would help both with planning and with being transparent during SSA reviews.
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NebulaNova
I'm currently going through SSI applications for my daughter and have been doing a lot of research on interstate moves since we're military. One thing that hasn't been mentioned yet is the importance of understanding Georgia's "reasonable compatibility" standards for Medicaid eligibility. When you move states, there can sometimes be a brief period where income verification systems between states don't sync up properly. Georgia uses a system called Gateway that cross-references with federal databases, but during transitions, manual verification might be needed. **A few practical tips from my research:** - Keep copies of EVERYTHING - your last 3 months of bank statements, any informal support documentation, and your son's medical records - Georgia processes SSI-related Medicaid applications faster if you apply online through the Georgia Gateway portal before you move - Consider getting a letter from your current doctors outlining your son's ongoing treatment needs - this can speed up provider approvals in Georgia **Regarding the $4,200 figure someone mentioned earlier** - that might be referring to the substantial gainful activity (SGA) limit, but that's for SSDI, not SSI. For SSI, there's no hard cutoff; it's a gradual reduction based on countable income. The fact that your son just started receiving benefits actually works in your favor for reporting changes - SSA expects new recipients to have adjustments in their first year, so they're usually more responsive to calls about status changes. Have you looked into whether Georgia has any transitional Medicaid programs that could bridge any potential gaps during your move?
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NebulaNinja
•Thank you for bringing up the "reasonable compatibility" standards and the Gateway system - I hadn't come across that information in my research yet! The military perspective is really valuable since you've clearly had to research interstate moves thoroughly. I'm definitely going to look into applying for Georgia Medicaid online before we move, and getting that letter from our current doctors is a great idea. You're right about the $4,200 figure being confusing - I think I may have mixed up SGA limits with SSI income calculations. The point about new recipients having expected adjustments is reassuring too. I haven't looked into Georgia's transitional Medicaid programs yet, but that's going on my research list now. Do you happen to know if the Gateway portal allows you to upload documents ahead of time, or is it better to wait until after the move to start that application process?
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Elijah Jackson
I'm new to this community but have been dealing with SSI for my daughter for about 2 years now. One thing that really helped us was creating a "change reporting checklist" that we keep handy for any major life events. For your situation, I'd suggest documenting everything in writing before you call SSA: - Exact move date and new address - Your husband's expected monthly support amount (even if it varies, give them a range) - Your expected work schedule and estimated monthly earnings - Any changes to household size or living arrangements The income exclusions work in your favor more than you might think. When I started working part-time, I was worried it would eliminate my daughter's benefits completely, but the earned income exclusions meant we actually came out ahead financially. Also, don't forget to update your address with Social Security AND the IRS if you're claiming your son as a dependent. Tax season can get complicated if addresses don't match up properly. One last tip - if you're moving to a larger city in Georgia like Atlanta, some of the local SSA offices have specialists who deal specifically with interstate moves and can walk you through the whole process in one appointment. It's worth asking when you call! Good luck with your move! It sounds like you're being really thoughtful about planning everything out.
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