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
my partner gets SSDI and we
my partner gets SSDI and we are both male if we were to get married would he loose any benfits
In reply to my partner gets SSDI and we by corey (not verified)
Hi Corey,
Hi Corey,
Because he's on SSDI, he will not lose any benefits. Because gay marriage is legal by federal law, your genders also do not matter.
In reply to Hi Corey, by Deanna
No question was asked here as
No question was asked here as to whether or not the SSDI benefit is based on the partner's record or a parent's. Why is a traditional couple's benefit effected and not that of a same sex couple?
In reply to No question was asked here as by Carmen (not verified)
Hi Carmen,
Hi Carmen,
If someone is getting SSDI based off their own records, nothing will change after marriage. If they are getting benefits based off of someone else's work records, then marriage may change their eligibility for benefits. This applies for all marriages.
In reply to No question was asked here as by Carmen (not verified)
Right why is a gay couple $
Right why is a gay couple $ won't change but a man and a woman get married their $$ will be loss how is this fear???
In reply to Right why is a gay couple $ by Tammy (not verified)
Hi Tammy,
Hi Tammy,
Benefits do not change based on sexual orientation, but they may change based on income, marital status, and living situation.
In reply to Hi Corey, by Deanna
im recieve surving spouse
im recieve surving spouse social security frm my father can i get married
In reply to im recieve surving spouse by angel (not verified)
Hi Angel,
Hi Angel,
If you're receiving survivor's benefits due to a disability that you have, it may affect your benefits if you marry. You may want to contact the SSA, you can do so by calling 1-772-1213 or by visiting their website at www.ssa.gov .
I'm engage to be marry
I'm engage to be marry and I receive ssdi would my marriage affect my benefits.
In reply to I'm engage to be marry by Elaine (not verified)
Your SSDI benefits will NOT
Your SSDI benefits will NOT be affected by marriage.
In reply to Your SSDI benefits will NOT by Deanna
Hello. My boyfriend receives
Hello. My boyfriend receives ssdi, I'm waiting on ssdi as well. Will getting married affect me from receiving benefits before being approved.
In reply to Hello. My boyfriend receives by ms. rocka (not verified)
Hi Ms Rocka,
Hi Ms Rocka,
Getting married while applying for SSDI will not affect your SSDI application.
So I have a few questions. My
So I have a few questions. My soon to be husband(next week) gets ssi?? He was in a accident at age 18 we r going on our 4 the kid together... When we get married will he get more money for me and the kids?? and can we draw off of his ssi.
In reply to So I have a few questions. My by kristy (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
No actually, if anything he might LOSE his benefits. This is because SSI recipients haven't paid anything in Social Security taxes and are not entitled to additional benefits for their family. SSDI recipients have paid taxes and are thus able to get additional benefits for their family.
I get disability, I worked so
I get disability, I worked so I don't get ssi for me. But they send me a check for my son. A ssi check just becuz he's underage. If I get married will his check be affected
In reply to I get disability, I worked so by Em (not verified)
Hi Em,
Hi Em,
Possibly not! But if your new spouse has a high income, your son may become disqualified from disability benefits.
Hi,
Hi,
I receive ssi and my girlfriend is pregnant and I do want to marry her. Will that effect my ssi ? She doesn't work but after the baby is here and she is a stay at home mom she will be working. Will it take into effect after ?
In reply to Hi, by Jay (not verified)
Hi Jay,
Hi Jay,
If you live with your girlfriend and she isn't working, this shouldn't affect your SSI. If you live with your girlfriend and she IS working and earning more than $733 per month, you could lose your benefits.
In reply to Hi Jay, by Deanna
I get Ssi and my husband has
I get Ssi and my husband has filed for his ssdi. I was wondering if he gets his ssdi if that will effect my check and insurance? Personally I'm just worried about insurance.
In reply to I get Ssi and my husband has by Cheri (not verified)
Hi Cheri,
Hi Cheri,
Depending on your husband's income, it may affect your SSI, however as Medicaid is administered at the state level, I would not be able to say if that would be affected. Additionally, if you are still qualified for SSI, you may still qualify for Medicaid.
Hi, I would like to know -- I
Hi, I would like to know -- I am currently working and got paid low income end up I have SSI but I wonder if I get married to my lady who have SSDI, it will affect my SSI? We aren't jointly accounts with the banks.
In reply to Hi, I would like to know -- I by Xandie (not verified)
Hi Xandie,
Hi Xandie,
Your payments may be lowered, but because she is disabled as well, you likely will NOT lose your SSI payments.
My boyfriend who is serving a
My boyfriend who is serving a life sentence wants to get married how and unable to provide for me money wise, will this affect my SSI?
In reply to My boyfriend who is serving a by Cheryl (not verified)
It certainly won't go up, but
It certainly won't go up, but it's possible your SSI benefits will stay the same if your boyfriend has no assets or income that could assist you.
My boyfriend receives
My boyfriend receives disability and we would like to get married I only work part time will his check be effected if we do
In reply to My boyfriend receives by pam (not verified)
If he receives SSI, then yes.
If he receives SSI, then yes. If he is on SSDI benefits, then the income you earn will not affect his eligibility.
I went to court and won my
I went to court and won my appeal case for ssi and then got a letter saying that my spouce makes too much to get benefits is that legal.
In reply to I went to court and won my by Gennee Burgett (not verified)
Hi Gennee,
Hi Gennee,
That's odd that they would approve you without looking at your spouses' income, but yes, that can certainly happen.
I have two children, my son
I have two children, my son has been receiving ssi for his whole life. I'd really like to marry my best friend but am afraid I will lose what little help I receive for my child. If we were to get married and move in together we would have 5 kids total living with us full time. How does that affect and other parties income affect my child's ssi?
In reply to I have two children, my son by Michelle (not verified)
Hi Michelle,
Hi Michelle,
If you have two adults in the household and 5 children total (4 who are not disabled), you both cannot earn more than $5,259 per month combined and still qualify for SSI benefits.
In reply to Hi Michelle, by Deanna
I have six kids one of them
I have six kids one of them get ssi one of the other child get child r 196month and I don't work my husband make 1500 a month can I still get my son ssi
In reply to I have six kids one of them by laresha Johnson (not verified)
Hi Laresha,
Hi Laresha,
If your husband makes $1,500 per month and that's your only source of income, your child should definitely still be eligible for SSI benefits.
In reply to Hi Michelle, by Deanna
Hello my son receives ssi. I
Hello my son receives ssi. I don't work and have 3 other children that are not on ssi. If I get married will he still be qualified for ssi. My fiancé earns about 2400 a month before taxes.
In reply to Hello my son receives ssi. I by CeeCee (not verified)
Hi CeeCee,
Hi CeeCee,
I would not be able to say that he would, as the SSA would have to calculate his deemed income to determine if he would still be eligible for benefits.
i'm 52 and receive
i'm 52 and receive social security disability and want to get married. my girlfriend works but only makes about 2000 monthly. my disability is from my own earnings. will I lose any of my benefits ..money or medical?
In reply to i'm 52 and receive by darla (not verified)
Hi Darla,
Hi Darla,
You will not have any issues so long as you are on SSDI benefits. You will not lose your benefits or medical insurance.
Hi I am receiving SSDI
Hi I am receiving SSDI disability (age 44 - my own work record) and I also receive QMB medicaid. My boyfriend is also receiving SSDI disability (age 47 - from his parents work record). We are both on Medicare as well. What would happen to our benefits when we get married? I know that I will not lose my SSDI, but I am not sure about my medicaid/medicare and my boyfriend's SSDI benefits and Medicare. Please help.
~Kevin
In reply to Hi I am receiving SSDI by Kevin (not verified)
Hi Kevin,
Hi Kevin,
I do not believe that your Medicare will be affected by marriage! If anything, your premiums might go down, so this could be a good thing.
In reply to Hi Kevin, by Deanna
Thanks, it would be nice if
Thanks, it would be nice if the premiums go down. Would my boyfriends SSDI be affected by marriage? He draws from his dads work record. We want to be sure before we make plans to get married. We cannot afford any loss of income right now due to hard times. I am sure this is common these days. Thanks in advance for your help. ~ Kevin & Michael
In reply to Thanks, it would be nice if by Kevin (not verified)
Hi Kevin,
Hi Kevin,
Yes! He will lose his benefits if he is drawing on his dad's records and not his own. I'm assuming he's a disabled adult child. They cannot continue to receive benefits after marriage. You should find out if he could qualify for SSI on his own before you get married, as you would lose all of his income unfortunately.
My boyfriend gets ssdi and I
My boyfriend gets ssdi and I get ssi. We want to get married. How will that effect our income?
In reply to My boyfriend gets ssdi and I by Jen (not verified)
Hi Jen,
Hi Jen,
Your SSI payment will potentially drop if there is any forms of income in the household that could affect you, such as stocks or cash or other assets like those. His benefits will stay the same..
My husband recently was
My husband recently was granted disability. My question is since my employer dropped my medical insurance will my husband's disability medical coverage cover me?
In reply to My husband recently was by Susan Kirchner (not verified)
Hi Susan,
Hi Susan,
It will not. I believe the only exception to this rule is if you are over the age of 62 and are receiving benefits under his account.
I'm a hearing guy and I
I'm a hearing guy and I work and my fiance is deaf and receive ssi and we wants to get marriage and want to know will that affect her ssi benifit?
In reply to I'm a hearing guy and I by Hi my name is … (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
If you work at all, her payments will be affected. If you earn more than $1,100 per month, she will not be eligible for SSI benefits at all.
My fiance and I would like to
My fiance and I would like to get married. I receive SSD benefits (since 2004) due to severe CHF that has left me unable to work. I receive an amount for myself and a separate amount for my minor child. My fiance also is receiving SSD due a permanent spinal injury. Does getting married affect any of our benefits?
In reply to My fiance and I would like to by Mary (not verified)
Hi Mary,
Hi Mary,
No, so long as you are both on SSDI benefits, your payments and Medicare eligibility will remain the same.
Hi I'm on SSD and
Hi I'm on SSD and receiving Medicare insurance for meds and hospital and I have a daughter that is receiving a check because of me she is still in high school a senior this and graduating in May but won't turn 18 until July and going to college when will it stop for her and if I get marry will that affect me because I'm receiving it because of me working.
In reply to Hi I'm on SSD and by Sally (not verified)
Hi Sally,
Hi Sally,
So your daughter will keep her benefits until she turns 18 in July. You getting married will not affect her benefits at all, because they do not affect your benefits.
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