Reinstating Social Security Benefits After Incarceration in New York State.
Learn how to navigate the process of resuming Social Security Disability Insurance, retirement benefits, or Supplemental Security Income after leaving jail.
Navigating the reinstatement of your Social Security benefits after incarceration can seem daunting, but preparation is key to a smooth transition back into the community.
Social Security Disability Insurance and retirement benefits are generally suspended during incarceration, not terminated. To restart your payments, you should contact your local Social Security office as soon as possible after release. You will need to provide proof of your confinement's end, such as your official release papers.
If you were receiving Supplemental Security Income, (SSI) the rules differ depending on the length of your confinement. If incarcerated for less than twelve months, your benefits can be reinstated, sometimes starting right in the month of release. However, if your S-S-I was suspended for twelve months or longer, the benefits are terminated, and you will need to submit a new application.
To speed up either process, it is highly recommended to speak with the jail's social worker to begin pre-release procedures before your expected release date. For more information, you can visit the Social Security Administration's page on benefits after incarceration at ssa.gov/reentry/benefits.htm .
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