2507.What are Life Changing Events?

There will be cases when a beneficiary or the spouse of a beneficiary will have experienced one or more events causing a significant reduction in modified adjusted gross income (MAGI). A "significant" reduction in MAGI is a reduction that decreases or eliminates the Income-Related Monthly Adjustment Amount (IRMAA) for a specific year. A beneficiary who has experienced a life-changing event that caused a significant reduction in MAGI may request SSA to make a new initial determination using a more recent tax year than the tax year used previously.

A life changing event can be one or more of the following eight events:

  • Death of Spouse

  • Marriage

  • Divorce or annulment

  • Work reduction

  • Work stoppage

  • Loss of Income Producing Property

  • Loss or reduction of pension income

  • Receipt of employer settlement payment.

Last Revised: Nov. 30, 2010