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 have weadower disability by Dana (not verified)
Hi Dana,
Hi Dana,
You may want to wait until age 60 to do so, you may be better able to preserve your survivor's benefits in that way.
Hu. My husband gets ssdi and
Hu. My husband gets ssdi and i just started working. Will my job affect his benefits? I've never worked so what he gets is on his own records earnings.
In reply to Hu. My husband gets ssdi and by J.m (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
It may not affect his benefits as SSDI benefits are based on work record, rather than household income
I am 58 yrs and just got
I am 58 yrs and just got approved for ssdi and am married 45 years. My husband draws his ssdi. Can I draw off of his record as I do not have enough quarters pd in.
In reply to I am 58 yrs and just got by Sally anne caudill (not verified)
Hi Sally,
Hi Sally,
If you are also considered disabled by the SSA, you may be able to do so.
Hi. I'm 61 currently on
Hi. I'm 61 currently on SSDI. I worked for 28 years before becoming disabled. It should switch to SS in the year 2022. (Age 66.5) my husband wants to retire early. He is 58 and would like to retire at 62, in the year 2020. If he waits to retire to his normal retirement age it would be in the year 2023 which would be after my disability switched to SS. Will my disability or switch to retirement SS, Have any effect on HIS social security benefits? Thank you
In reply to Hi. I'm 61 currently on by Lily (not verified)
Hi Lily,
Hi Lily,
Your disability benefits or retirement may not affect your spouse, as retirement and SSDI benefits are based on individual work records.
In reply to Hi Lily, by Bryan
Thank you so much it's
Thank you so much it's been a terrible worry.
In reply to Thank you so much it's by Lily (not verified)
Hi Lily, You're very welcome!
Hi Lily,
You're very welcome!
If I marry and my spouse has
If I marry and my spouse has no income, will my check go up becau
In reply to If I marry and my spouse has by Scott (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
There is a higher benefit limit for married SSI recipients, however I could not say if your check would go up in your specific case as I do not know the details.
I am 56 and on SSDI. I own
I am 56 and on SSDI. I own property that I want to sell because it is too costly for me to have some one take care of it. It's in another state and there is no buildings on the property, but is within city limits. Can I sell it without it affecting my SSDI?
In reply to I am 56 and on SSDI. I own by Bonita (not verified)
HI Bonita,
HI Bonita,
Yes, you may be able to sell your land, as SSDI benefits are not affected by financial resources.
My fiance and I are both on
My fiance and I are both on disability, me since 1999, him 2014 or 2015. Will our checks be cut? and what happens with Medicare/medicaid?
In reply to My fiance and I are both on by Paula (not verified)
Hi Paula,
Hi Paula,
Getting married will not affect either of your SSDI benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I was wanting to know I&#039
I was wanting to know I'm getting married sat and my future husband has two kids will I also get money fir then and what about my spouse
In reply to I was wanting to know I' by Anonymous (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
SSDI benefits are based on your work record and generally do not change due to your living situation.
SSI benefits are based on your income and resources and as such may change when your living situation changes, such as when you get married.
I hope this helps.
Best Wishes,
Eric
My niece gets a check for a
My niece gets a check for a learning disability , would she lose her benefits if she gets married
In reply to My niece gets a check for a by kim (not verified)
Hi Kim,
Hi Kim,
Getting married would not affect your niece's SSDI benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I can Social Security under
I can Social Security under my dad's... I want to get married really soon will this affect my social security???
In reply to I can Social Security under by Kelley (not verified)
Hi Kelley,
Hi Kelley,
Getting married will not affect your SSDI benefits. However, getting married may affect your SSI benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
If someone has been divorced
If someone has been divorced and then became eligible for Ssdi and then that person remarries, will she lose her Ssdi benefit?
In reply to If someone has been divorced by Susan (not verified)
Hi Susan,
Hi Susan,
Getting married/re-married will not affect someone's disability benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I get SSI as well as SDI and
I get SSI as well as SDI and my boyfriend gets SDI also. My question is can we get married and still get the same amount of money or will the checks change and which ones will it be?
In reply to I get SSI as well as SDI and by Toya (not verified)
Hi Toya,
Hi Toya,
Your SSDI benefits may not change for either of you, however your SSI benefits may change as you and your spouse's income would be combined to calculate your benefit amount.
I get SDDI & My husband
I get SDDI & My husband and son are covered under my medical benefit. My husband owns his own business. When we file taxes will his income affect my benefit? Do we have to file jointly and include my income?
In reply to I get SDDI & My husband by Carolyne (not verified)
Hi Carolyne,
Hi Carolyne,
I am not a tax expert, so unfortunately I am not able to answer your question.
Best Wishes,
Eric
My boyfriend works full time
My boyfriend works full time but I receive survivors benefits from my father who past many years ago. Now if my boyfriend and I get married, will social security take away my income?
In reply to My boyfriend works full time by Judith Q (not verified)
Hi Judith,
Hi Judith,
Getting married may affect your SSI survivor's benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
My boyfriend is disabled and
My boyfriend is disabled and gets disability for bipolarism. He gets treatments.If I marry him can I be added to his check if I currently have no income?I'm 52, and am receiving no SSD,or SSI.
In reply to My boyfriend is disabled and by Cheryl (not verified)
Hi Cheryl,
Hi Cheryl,
If your boyfriend is receiving SSDI benefits, then you may be eligible for benefits after marriage if you are also disabled.
So I was getting SSDI before
So I was getting SSDI before I met her it will not affect my grade if I marry her song I want to know I don't want to get married and then all of a sudden I'm terminated it has nothing to do with no one but my illness so I don't have to worry about it right
In reply to So I was getting SSDI before by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
If you're receiving SSDI, marriage will not affect your benefits as thjey are not based on income.
I have been on disability for
I have been on disability for 2 years, my ex has been on disability for 4 years I have recently been told by friends that I could get benefits from my ex is this true?
In reply to I have been on disability for by Betty (not verified)
Hi Betty,
Hi Betty,
You may need to be married for 10 years or more to be eligible, you can find more information here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/blog/divorce-ssdi
Can I receive disability from
Can I receive disability from my exhusband? I was married to him for over 12 years and he has been on disability for about 5 years I have been disabled for 2 years, and recently told buy friends that I can get benefits from him. Is this true?
In reply to Can I receive disability from by Betty (not verified)
Hi Betty,
Hi Betty,
Since you were married for over 12 years, you may be eligible to receive disability from your ex husband.
Best Wishes,
Eric
Hi my question is...
Hi my question is...
My daughter at the moment receives the full amouny of SSI and there are 3 other non-disabled children in the household. If i was was to get married would it affect her benefit amount? He is currently making 2800 a month
In reply to Hi my question is... by T barraza (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
Getting married may affect your daughter's benefit amount.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I draw 770 a month disability
I draw 770 a month disability my husband has signed up for ssi because of medical reasons he has been out of work for about 16 months this is all the income we have is there anything I can draw or help with I'm loosing everything with him not being able to work he doesn't qualify for disability please help
In reply to I draw 770 a month disability by sherry (not verified)
Hi Sherry,
Hi Sherry,
You may want to contact your local SSA office, they may be able to direct you to resources in your state.
I am getting 2 checks one on
I am getting 2 checks one on the 1st and 1 on the 3rd and my benefits both don't even total $700. I am dating someone who is almost 64 and we have discussed marriage but I am concerned with how it would affect my check amounts but more importantly my medical benefits as my one medication is over $4,000 a month
In reply to I am getting 2 checks one on by Michele (not verified)
Hi Michele,
Hi Michele,
You may be receiving both SSDI benefits and SSI benefits. If that's the case, then you may have a change in benefits after marriage as the SSI portion of your benefits are income based, and they would take your spouse's earnings into account when calculating benefits. As far as medical coverage, you would still be eligible for Medicare as an SSDI beneficiary, however your eligibility for Medicaid ( If you are receiving Medicaid as well as Medicare) may be affected. You may want to reach out to the office in your state that handles Medicaid, as Medicaid rules can vary by state.
How are couples rates
How are couples rates determined?
In reply to How are couples rates by metta jay (not verified)
Hi Metta Jay,
Hi Metta Jay,
This article here outlines the couples rates https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/issuepapers/ip2003-01.html
Bes Wishes,
Eric
I am on ssi and my husband is
I am on ssi and my husband is a foreigner not working presently.After marriage will i still be getting my benefits
In reply to I am on ssi and my husband is by Rachel (not verified)
Hi Rachel,
Hi Rachel,
Getting married may affect your benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
Hi i get ssi an my boyfriend
Hi i get ssi an my boyfriend get ssdi.. How would that affect us if we get married..
In reply to Hi i get ssi an my boyfriend by Lynette (not verified)
Hi Lynette,
Hi Lynette,
Your boyfriend's SSDI will not be affected, however getting married may affect your SSI benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I am on SSDI my spouse works
I am on SSDI my spouse works and earns over 45k a year. I read that if your combined income is over 32K because of married filing jointly 85% of my SSDI is taxable. My question is would it be better to get divorced for tax purposes or not.
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