The Social Security Administration warns: This is what you must do with your card if you get married in order not to lose your benefits

Life is full of changes, and some of them can impact your Social Security benefits. In the United States, one of the most significant change is marriage, an event that brings with it a number of changes, including legal and administrative ones. For those who get Social Security checks, it’s crucial to pay attention to these details, as any errors could affect your monthly payments.

The process of updating your personal information may seem trivial, but keeping your information up to date with the Social Security Administration is more important than it seems. Changing your last name is one of the most common things that is overlooked after you get married, and not reporting it correctly can have consequences.

To avoid any interruption in your payments, it’s critical to know the steps necessary to update your information in the Social Security database and ensure everything is in order.

What to do with your Social Security card if you get married

If you get married and change your last name, you need to inform the Social Security Administration of this change as soon as possible. If your name on your Social Security card does not match your new marital status or your official identification, you could face problems getting your benefit. This is because the system cross-checks your personal information with your income and other data, so any discrepancies can cause your check to be temporarily or permanently suspended.

The process is simple, but it should be a priority. First, you must apply for a new Social Security card that reflects your current last name. To do this, you will need to fill out the SS-5 form and present official documentation of your name change, such as a marriage certificate. In addition, it is important that your information is up to date with other agencies, such as the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), to avoid future errors.

Failure to update your card could lead to complications, as the Social Security system may not recognize your records correctly. This could lead to delays in payment or even a complete stop payment of the check until the problem is resolved.

Other reasons why we may lose our Social Security payment

In addition to a name change due to marriage, there are other situations that could put your monthly Social Security check at risk. One of the most common is excess income. If you get income in addition to your retirement or disability check and it exceeds certain limits, the Social Security Administration may reduce your benefit amount or temporarily suspend it.

Another reason could be failure to report changes in your marital status. Both marriage and divorce must be reported to the Social Security Administration, as these events can alter the amount of money you get. For example, in some cases, remarriage can affect spousal or survivor benefits.

Finally, failure to report changes in residency can also affect your monthly check payment. If you move to another country, Social Security regulations may change based on international agreements. Keeping your information up to date is essential to avoid any interruption in payments.