How to Relocate During Disability

No regulations forbid you from moving to a new home either while awaiting a disability decision from the Social Security Administration or after your approval to receive benefits. Social Security Disability payments are federal benefits and therefore are not influenced by your state of residence. However, if you are receiving state benefits, such as food stamps or Medicaid, these programs may be stopped, interrupted or started by a change in your residence. While your relocation is not monitored by the government, you may need to make special arrangements to coordinate your medical care or ensure that necessary resources are available near your new home because of your disability.

Things You'll Need

• Copies of your medical records

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Instructions

• 1

  Compare the housing, food, transportation, medical, recreational and other cost-of-living expenses in your current location versus where you plan to move. Modifications to your plans may be necessary depending upon the results of your comparison.

• 2

  Ask the physician who primarily treats your disability for a referral in your new home's area. If she is unable to provide you with the name of a new physician or practice, contact the specialty's association for a list of practitioners nearby.

• 3

  Request copies of your medical records from your primary physician and copies of any recent radiological, neurological or psychological evaluations.

• 4

  Contact the benefits office of your current state if you are receiving any state-administered benefits because of your disability. Provide the date you will be moving as well as your new address.

• 5

  Contact the benefits office of the state to which you are moving if you are receiving any state-administered benefits because of your disability. Provide the date you will be moving as well as your new address. Determine whether you will be eligible for benefits in your new home state, what documents you need and where you will have to go to enroll.

• 6

  Notify the Social Security Administration of your address change either online or by calling 800-772-1213. If your disability application is still under review, it will be transferred to your new area office for completion.

• 7

  Arrange for direct deposit of your benefits check into your new bank if you will be changing financial institutions.

• 8

  Arrange for a transfer of your prescriptions to a drugstore close to your new home. This process will be easier if you use a national chain and continue to do so.

• 9

  Arrange for installation of durable medical equipment, handicapped or disability-assisting devises, wheelchair ramps or other equipment before your arrival, if possible.

• 10

  Call your new location's Chamber of Commerce to request a newcomer or relocation package.