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Staying at a medical facility

We may need to know if you are checked in to a hospital, nursing home, or other medical facility.

At a glance

We generally only need to know about a stay at a medical facility if you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI).

If you get any other Social Security benefit, we only need to know if your medical stay results in a change to your contact information, your disability status, or your ability to manage your monthly payment.

Learn more

Long-term stays

If you get SSI, you must tell us about a long-term stay at a medical facility. Your monthly payment may be reduced if your stay is longer than a month. 

Tell us no later than the tenth day of the month after your situation changes to get an accurate payment.

We’ll usually need a copy of your admission or discharge papers. 

Short-term stays

You may be able to keep your full SSI payment if your stay at a medical facility is short-term. We define a short-term stay as more than a month but less than 90 days.

Tell us if you expect to be there for a short-term stay and you need your monthly payments to keep paying for your home while you’re away.

We will need a signed statement from your doctor saying that your stay will be less than 90 days.