Last week, we wrote a blog post answering a question that was sent to us through Facebook. We received some great feedback and readers have suggested that they’d like us to make this a regular thing. Please feel free to let us know your thoughts in the comment section below. Tell us what questions you’d like us to answer next week! Today’s question is:
Question: How will marriage affect my disability benefits?
Getting married may affect your disability benefits in a variety of ways. This is largely dependent on what type of benefits you receive—Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
If you receive SSI benefits, you likely already know that eligibility is determined based on your income and financial resources. Once you get married, the SSA will “deem” a portion of your spouse’s income to your record. Essentially, this means that they will consider your future husband or wife’s income to be your income as well. This may significantly reduce your monthly payment or even cause the SSA to terminate your benefits altogether.
It is important to note that, if you live with your significant other but are not yet married, the SSA may still decide to deem some of your partner’s income to your record.
If you receive SSDI on your own earnings record, getting married will have no impact on your benefits—no matter how much money your future spouse earns. If you receive SSDI based on someone else’s earnings record, your benefits could be affected in the following ways:
- If you receive SSDI benefits under an eligible parent’s record, getting married will cause your benefits to be terminated. The only time benefits will not be terminated in this circumstance is if you are marrying another disabled adult child.
- If you are currently receiving SSDI benefits on the work record of an ex-spouse, your benefits will be terminated if you remarry. This also applies to individuals who receive SSDI on the record of a deceased ex-spouse who remarry before age 50 if disabled, and before age 60 if not disabled.
Before you make any decisions regarding marriage or disability benefits, you should always consult with an SSA representative. That way, you can avoid unknowingly compromising your benefits. Please feel free to leave additional questions or comments in the section below and we will try our best to answer each of your questions.
Submitted By: Molly Clarke
Blog comments
In reply to I am currently working full by Stacey Osenbaugh (not verified)
Hi Stacey,
Hi Stacey,
This will not affect his benefits, as SSDI is work-based and not needs-based.
My husband is on SSI and I
My husband is on SSI and I recently started on RSDI . Will my husband check be lowered due to mine
In reply to My husband is on SSI and I by Sherry long (not verified)
Hi Sherry,
Hi Sherry,
It's possible, as nearly any form of income (unearned or not) can affect SSI. He can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to learn more about how his income might be affected.
My fiancé is on social
My fiancé is on social security disability. I have no income as I have not worked since 2010. If we wert to get married how would if affect his monthly income?
In reply to My fiancé is on social by Heather (not verified)
Hi Heather,
Hi Heather,
This will not affect your benefits at all!
Im on social security and
Im on social security and social security disability and im getting married next year will my benefits stop
In reply to Im on social security and by Ruth (not verified)
Hi Ruth,
Hi Ruth,
If you receive income-based benefits, then those may change depending on your household income.
I was recieving supplemental
I was recieving supplemental ss and my husband started recieving ssdi and they took my ssi away, he just passed away a few days ago, will they now give me mine back? I dont know what to expect. I called and let them know and they are suppose to be giving me a call back in a few days
In reply to I was recieving supplemental by Kathy (not verified)
Hi Kathy,
Hi Kathy,
I am sorry for your loss. You may be eligible for benefits based on his work history, the SSA may be giving you a call in a few days with this information. If you have not heard from them, it may be a good idea to contact the office in your area, you can find a listing for them here:
www.disability-benefits-help.org/social-security-disability-locations
I'm on disability not
I'm on disability not sure if it's so or Ssdi, but I want to get married. If I get married would I loose my disability even if we file separately? And since on disability I have not made more than 18 grand a year from disability and have not filed any taxes. I'm so confused am I doing this all wrong?
What are my options? I work but only part time maybe make an extra 500 a month. Just for me. Should I not get married? Or what is the right thing I should be doing?
In reply to I'm on disability not by Tracey (not verified)
Hi Tracey,
Hi Tracey,
If you're receiving income-based benefits, your benefits may change if you get married as your benefits would be calculated based on your household, not individual income. It may be a good idea to contact the SSA regarding this, you can do so at 1-800-772-1213.
Question: I'm receiving
Question: I'm receiving SSI disability I got this when I hurt my back at Work. Now I'm thinking on getting married. She's working right now. If I decide on getting married will it affect my benefits.
In reply to Question: I'm receiving by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
If your benefits are based on your level of income, then they may change because your combined income would be used to calculate your eligibility.
If I'm on Ssdi age 62
If I'm on Ssdi age 62 and marry someone on ssa age70 how will this effect our benefits
In reply to If I'm on Ssdi age 62 by Edwina (not verified)
Hi Edwina,
Hi Edwina,
It may not affect your benefits at all, as SSDI and retirement are separate programs.
Me adn my boyfriend have been
Me adn my boyfriend have been living together for 7 years now. I am on SSI he is not. and has a full time job. we want to get married or commit to each other by a domesticated partnership or a commitment ceremony without me loosing my benefits or them getting cut and my loosing my health insurance? is a domestic partnership a better way to go?, we both live in Queens, NYC
In reply to Me adn my boyfriend have been by Heather H (not verified)
Hi Heather,
Hi Heather,
I really could not say, however you may be able to have a state-recognized union without losing your benefits. It may be a good idea to contact your local SSI office to see what amount of your boyfriend's income would be counted toward your income limit and to see if it would affect your eligibility.
In reply to Hi Heather, by Bryan
My wife's kids are
My wife's kids are receiving Ssdi child support the dad is a nut job and is getting married to a woman with an underage kid making that his step son.he is clearly doing this for money will either his wife does not work or step kid get ssdi payments and will it reduce our child support ssdi payments?
In reply to My wife's kids are by Greg (not verified)
Hi Greg,
Hi Greg,
If they are eligible for benefits, it may not affect your children's benefits at all.
My son received disability
My son received disability for his diagnosis of ADD and ODD and having IEP classes in school. When my husband and I married in May 2015, they were taken due to my husband's income. My husband is not even his dad. And now my back is hurt and I'm thinking of applying. Is being married going to affect my earnings even though I could draw off of what I made when I worked. My husband makes $25 per hour but after all the withholdings he only brings home a little over $300 a week and we're a family of 4.
In reply to My son received disability by Cheryl (not verified)
Hi Cheryl,
Hi Cheryl,
You may be eligible for benefits based off of your work history. it may be a good idea to contact a disability attorney or advocate, they can help you through the application process and fight for you if you need to appeal the SSA's decision. You can reach out to one by filling out this form:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/form/free-disability-evaluation
Hi iam on disability I get
Hi iam on disability I get 548 a month my boyfriend works he gets about 1,200 every two weeks he has a son he has custody of he is 11 he not biologically mine been his mom since he was two I never been married he has 3 times he is 65 on Dec 12 I'm 39 can we get married even tho I'm on disability I can not work I have degenerative dish diease and a calcium deposit on left hip I walk with a cane we been together almost 10 years we want to get married is it possible I also get medicaid and Medicare he has personal insurance on him and our son will that be affected to. Pl let me know thanks
In reply to Hi iam on disability I get by Denise (not verified)
Hi Denise,
Hi Denise,
If you're receiving income based benefits, then your benefits may change as the SSA may use your household income to calculate your benefit amount. However, if you're still otherwise eligible, you may still be able to receive Medicaid even if there is a change in your benefits.
I get 733.00 a month if I get
I get 733.00 a month if I get married and if my man don't work and don't have no inncom he he only got money for his injured ankle like he has scews
In reply to I get 733.00 a month if I get by Angela Lee tavera (not verified)
Hi Angela,
Hi Angela,
If you're receiving that benefit based on your income and resources, it may change when you get married as the SSA uses combined household income to determine eligibility for benefits.
I'm on disability social
I'm on disability social security so o get medicare and medicaid plus exrra help. This is from my income only. If I get married will I lose my medicaid and extra help. I'm 66yrs old my social security disability is permanent they help pay for my medicare everymonth and I get medicare part d . Please help me with this question.
In reply to I'm on disability social by Love (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
If you're at full retirement age, your benefits would not change due to marriage. However, it may be a good idea to contact the office in your state that provides Medicaid benefits, as Medicaid eligibility and benefits may vary by state.
My father isn't in the
My father isn't in the best shape and he is receiving ssdi now I'm his only son and I'm married and on ssi if he passes will I get his ssdi and loose my ssi
I got married in 2009 I think
I got married in 2009 I think. This lasted about as long as the ride home. Found out he was married in a nother state. I never reported this fraudulent arrangement to my appeal for SSD case. Its been over 7 yrs. I haven't spoke to him. Can he come back af er 10 yrs and make a claim on my benefits? Do I file so I can get those back payments he was supposed to get? I need to know a way so he cant just show up & collect the money.
In reply to I got married in 2009 I think by Jana Porras (not verified)
Hi Jana,
Hi Jana,
If your marriage was not legally binding, he may not be eligible for benefits based on your work history.
I get ssi 733 and my
I get ssi 733 and my boyfriend gets disability 942 and we talking about getting married and we was wondering will it stop mine or his or both checks
In reply to I get ssi 733 and my by Desiree Moore (not verified)
HI Desiree,
HI Desiree,
It may not stop your checks, but your benefits may change as the SSA would use your household income to calculate your benefits. In addition, the benefit limit for households is 1,100 rather than 733.
In reply to I get ssi 733 and my by Desiree Moore (not verified)
HI Desiree,
HI Desiree,
It may not stop your checks, but your benefits may change as the SSA would use your household income to calculate your benefits. In addition, the benefit limit for households is 1,100 rather than 733.
Ok am getting ssi and am
Ok am getting ssi and am getting my marriage license tomorrow and my husband don't work yet am I still getting my disability check
In reply to Ok am getting ssi and am by Ashley devega (not verified)
Hi Ashley,
Hi Ashley,
You may, however your future husband's income may affect your benefit amount.
My husband is in the process
My husband is in the process of appealing his disability, if we were to get married now would that play a part in the decision?
In reply to My husband is in the process by Tee (not verified)
Hi Tee,
Hi Tee,
If your husband is appealing an SSI decision, then it may if your household income would change after marriage.
If child support is taken out
If child support is taken out of my disability, when she turns 18 will that money go back in my monthly disability payment
In reply to If child support is taken out by Tim (not verified)
Hi Tim,
Hi Tim,
Yes, if you cease to be subject to child support and it is taken out of your monthly disability benefits, you may receive that same amount back in your check.
My father wants to apply for
My father wants to apply for SSDI benefits but my mother has money in the bank from a work related injury case my father won. Can that money affect my father's SSDI application?
In reply to My father wants to apply for by Mario (not verified)
Hi Mario,
Hi Mario,
No, SSDI benefits are based on work record, not income and resources.
my spouse and I are getting
my spouse and I are getting married I receive ssi disabilty and she work under 32 hours every week would she be able to receive ssi though my income or would I get a increase for the both of us
In reply to my spouse and I are getting by kim (not verified)
Hi Kim,
Hi Kim,
Unfortunately SSI benefits do not include benefits for spouses or children.
If I remarrie and adopt two
If I remarrie and adopt two very hungry children will they be eligible for SSSI bennifits
In reply to If I remarrie and adopt two by Mike h (not verified)
Hi Mike,
Hi Mike,
If you are currently receiving SSDI benefits, then they may be eligible for auxiliary benefits based on your SSDI benefits.
I am just getting ssdi and I
I am just getting ssdi and I was wondering if I marry my girlfriend, she is not working because I need some help, will it affect my ssdi benefits
In reply to I am just getting ssdi and I by David (not verified)
Hi David,
Hi David,
SSDI benefits are based on your work record, so marriage may not affect your benefits.
I retired at 60 I make 2840 a
I retired at 60 I make 2840 a month she makes 900 a month on ssd on her own work record HR block says have too pay her taxes too but why.
In reply to I retired at 60 I make 2840 a by #60 (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
I really could not say why as we are not experts in tax codes, however if you have other sources of income those may be taxed.
I understand that getting
I understand that getting married haas no impact on ssdi payments, however what if i was to marry someone from another country and they wanted us to live there the majority of the time and be in the US only a few months a year. Would my payments be effected than?
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