What you can do on the disability section of My Social Security

The disability section of My Social Security lets you check the status of a pending claim, view your current benefit amount, see your payment history, and update your contact information — all without calling SSA. If you already receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), you can log in to see what SSA has on file about your work history, medical condition, and ongoing case.

You do not need a separate account for disability benefits. If you have a My Social Security account, the disability tools are already there. The account shows information from your Social Security record, which is the same record SSA uses to manage your case.

What you cannot do on My Social Security is file a new claim, request a hearing, or upload medical evidence. Those steps still require a phone call to SSA, a visit to your local office, or working with a representative. But checking what SSA already knows about you — and catching errors before they affect your benefits — can save you weeks of back-and-forth.

Key Takeaways

  • You can view your current SSDI or SSI benefit amount, payment dates, and the last time SSA updated your case on My Social Security without calling.
  • The account shows your earnings record and work history, which matters because SSDI is based on your own prior work or your parent's work history.
  • You can update your address, phone number, and direct deposit information online, and changes take effect within a few business days.
  • If you are waiting for a decision on a claim, My Social Security will show the status, though the timeline varies widely depending on whether your case is at the initial level or in appeal.
  • Errors in your earnings record or medical information should be reported to SSA directly — My Social Security lets you see the error but not correct it yourself.

Setting up and logging into your account

To create a My Social Security account, go to ssa.gov/myaccount and select "Create an account." You will need your Social Security number, email address, and a way to verify your identity — either a U.S. mobile phone number, a U.S. address, or a driver's license or state ID number. The verification step takes a few minutes and happens right after you create your password.

If you already have a My Social Security account but have not logged in recently, your login credentials remain the same. SSA does not expire passwords or force you to reset them unless you report your account as compromised. If you forget your password, use the "Forgot username or password?" link on the login page; SSA will send a reset link to your email.

Once you are logged in, the disability information appears under a section labeled "Benefits" or "My Benefits," depending on which version of the site you see. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, both will show. If you have a pending claim, a separate section will display the status.

Checking your benefit amount and payment schedule

My Social Security shows your monthly benefit amount, the date your benefits began, and the dates your payments are deposited. For SSDI, the amount is based on your own work history or, if you are a family member, on the worker's history. For SSI, the amount depends on your living situation and countable income.

The payment date listed is usually the second, third, or fourth Wednesday of the month, depending on your birth date. If you receive both SSDI and SSI, you may see two separate payment dates or one combined payment, depending on how your case was set up. Direct deposit is the only way SSA pays benefits now; if you do not see a bank account listed, contact SSA to set one up.

If your benefit amount changes — because of a cost-of-living adjustment, a work incentive, or a change in your living situation — My Social Security will reflect the new amount within a few days of the change taking effect. You will also receive a notice in the mail explaining the change.

Viewing your earnings record and work history

Your earnings record is the list of wages SSA has on file for every year you worked. SSDI benefits are calculated from your highest 35 years of earnings, so errors in this record directly affect how much you receive. My Social Security displays your earnings year by year, going back to when you first worked.

If you see a year with no earnings or very low earnings that you know is wrong, you can report it to SSA, but you must do so by phone or in person — My Social Security does not have a tool to correct it online. Bring your tax returns or W-2s from that year as proof. SSA has a three-year window to correct most earnings errors, so do not delay if you spot a mistake.

Your work history also shows whether you have enough work credits to remain insured for SSDI. You need 40 work credits total, with at least 20 earned in the 10 years before you became disabled. My Social Security will tell you if you meet this requirement.

Updating your address, phone, and direct deposit

You can change your mailing address, phone number, and email address on My Social Security without calling SSA. These changes take effect within one to three business days. If you move, update your address as soon as possible so SSA's notices and your benefit statements reach you.

You can also add or change your direct deposit bank account information on My Social Security. If you switch banks or want to split your payment between two accounts, you can set that up online. Changes to direct deposit usually take effect within three to five business days, though some banks may take longer to post the first deposit.

Do not change your phone number or email without updating My Social Security, because SSA may try to contact you about your case. If SSA cannot reach you, they may suspend your benefits or miss a important date you need to meet.

Tracking the status of a pending claim or appeal

If you have filed for SSDI or SSI and are waiting for a decision, My Social Security shows where your case stands. The status will say something like "We received your process" or "Your case is being reviewed" or "A decision has been made." The timeline varies widely: initial decisions can take three to six months, but cases in appeal can take a year or longer.

The status page does not always show every detail — for instance, it may not tell you whether SSA is waiting for medical records from your doctor or whether your case is assigned to a decision maker. If you need more detail, call SSA's disability hotline at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) and ask to speak with someone about your specific case.

If you are represented by a lawyer or non-lawyer representative, they can also check your case status on your behalf, and SSA will send them copies of any notices or decisions.

What you cannot do on My Social Security

My Social Security is a read-only tool for most disability information. You cannot file a new claim, request a hearing, submit medical evidence, or report a change in your medical condition. You also cannot report work activity, request a work incentive, or ask SSA to review a decision you disagree with.

If you need to do any of these things, you must contact SSA directly. Call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), visit your local Social Security office, or work with a representative. SSA's phone lines are usually shortest early in the week and early in the morning.

If you are working and want to report your earnings under a work incentive program like Plan to Achieve Self-Support (PASS) or Impairment Related Work Expenses (IRWE), you will need to contact SSA or your work incentive specialist. These programs can help you keep more of your earnings without losing benefits, but they require SSA to approve them in advance.

Fixing errors in your account information

If you see an error on My Social Security — a wrong name, a missing year of work, an incorrect benefit amount — do not assume it will fix itself. Report it to SSA right away. For errors in your earnings record, bring your tax returns or W-2s. For errors in your benefit amount or payment information, call SSA and ask them to investigate.

Some errors are straightforward to fix: if your name is misspelled or your address is wrong, SSA can correct it in one call. Other errors, like missing earnings or an incorrect benefit calculation, may require SSA to review your entire case, which can take weeks. The sooner you report it, the sooner SSA can act.

If you believe SSA made an error in calculating your benefit, you have the right to request a reconsideration — a full review of your case by someone who did not make the original decision. This is different from an appeal and is usually faster.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I file a new SSDI or SSI claim on My Social Security?

No. My Social Security only lets you check the status of an existing claim or manage an active benefit. To file a new claim, call SSA at 1-800-772-1213, visit your local office, or go to ssa.gov/applyfordisability to start the process online.

What if I see a benefit amount on My Social Security that is different from what I actually receive?

Call SSA when ready. The amount shown on My Social Security should match your bank deposits, but if it does not, there may be a payment hold, a change in your case, or a system error. SSA can explain the difference and correct it if needed.

How long does it take for changes I make on My Social Security to take effect?

Address and phone changes usually take one to three business days. Direct deposit changes take three to five business days. If you do not see the change reflected after that time, call SSA to confirm it went through.

Can my representative or lawyer check my case status on My Social Security?

Yes, if you have authorized them. Your representative can log in using their own account and access your case information. You can authorize a representative on My Social Security or by submitting a form SSA-1696 to SSA.

What should I do if I think SSA made an error in my benefit calculation?

Request a reconsideration by calling SSA at 1-800-772-1213. Bring any documents that support your claim — tax returns, medical records, or letters from your employer. You have 60 days from the date on SSA's notice to request reconsideration.