Social Security or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments programs prohibit payments to most inmates. They will suspend your Social Security benefits if you are confined to a jail, prison or other penal institution for more than 30 continuous days due to a criminal conviction. Although you can’t get monthly Social Security benefits while you are confined, we will continue to pay benefits to your dependent spouse or children as long as they remain eligible. If you get SSI, they will stop your payments after you are imprisoned for a month. If you use their pre-release procedure, they may be able to reinstate your benefits starting with the month you are released. SSI recipients who are confined 12 consecutive months or longer, must reapply for SSI and again be approved.