The Basics

If your child gets benefits like Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Medicaid 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, such as address, people you live with, and if you are married.

If your child is under 18, SSI and Medicaid 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

1. 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.
2. Report all changes to the appropriate agencies. For SSI, your child should report changes to Social Security. For Medicaid, your child should report to the Division of Public Assistance (DPA).
3. Check your mail and follow any additional instructions. Sometimes DPA or Social Security sends letters or a worker asks 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. Make sure to follow their instructions and respond if needed.