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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

SSI reporting

If you get SSI, you must tell us about any stay at a medical facility that lasts longer than a month. Your monthly payment may be reduced if your stay is longer than 30 days.

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

We’ll ask for information about your stay, such as the name of the facility and the date you went in. It’s helpful for you to have a copy of your admission or discharge papers.

Report a medical facility stay

Special exception for stays under 90 days

You may be able to keep your full SSI payment if your stay at a medical facility is less than 90 days.

Let us know if:

  • You expect to be there for less than 90 days, and
  • You need your monthly payments to keep paying for your home while you’re away.

We’ll need a signed statement from your doctor saying that your stay will be less than 90 days. Send us this statement before you leave the hospital or by the 90th day, whichever comes first.

Report the stay to request an exception