Ask Larry

How Can I Get My Benefits Started Again?

Been trying to get back on my sis went to jail they said I would get my sis back

Hi,

You can't be paid Social Security benefits if you're convicted of a crime and sent to jail or prison for more than 30 days. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits can't be paid for any length of time that you spend in jail. I'm don't know which type of benefit you are referring to.

If Social Security benefits are suspended due to an incarceration, they can be reinstated effective with the first full month after the person is released. So, for example, if a person is released from jail on August 2nd, their benefits could be reinstated effective with September. However, Social Security benefits for September aren't payable until October, so there can be quite a lag time before Social Security payments are resumed.

If you're eligible for SSI benefits, those payments can usually be resumed sooner than Social Security benefits. Social Security needs to see proof of your release from imprisonment in order to reinstate benefits, so unless they receive that information from the jail in which you were incarcerated you may need to submit your release paperwork to Social Security. For more information on reinstating benefits after an incarceration, refer to the following Social Security publication: https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10133.pdf.

Best, Jerry

Category: 
Posted: 
Aug 10 2020 - 10:42am
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