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
I receive ssi will be
I receive ssi will be getting married here soon. My spouse is a truck driver and I was wondering would that affect me from being terminated because you never know when my spouse bringing in a paycheck some weeks we can go with out a paychecks the longest we went without a paycheck is 6 weeks and my spouse pays more out than what they brings in
In reply to I receive ssi will be by Mykids309 (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
While your benefits may change as the benefit amount is determined by household income for married individuals, I really could not say as your benefits would depend on your income and resources.
Fiance is no longer able to
Fiance is no longer able to work & is applying for SSDI. If he IS approved after we have already married, is it based off of his 'single' status upon application date or 'married' status of approval date?
In reply to Fiance is no longer able to by canon!ND (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
if your fiance is applying based on his work record, then marital status would not change his benefits.
I veen married over 11 years
I veen married over 11 years and have 2 children with my wife but my kids live with there grandmother and my Wife and I have been strugeling to live cauae she never worked and I am on ssdi my kuds get 500 a month each and I fet 1000 a month is my wife eligable im 40 she is 30 l.
I currently receive SSDI,
I currently receive SSDI, Medicare Part A, And Medicaid. I plan on marrying someone who has a job but does not have health insurance at all for himself ( via work or privately). I understand that my SSDI will not be affected but what will happen with my Medicare Part A and B? Thank you
In reply to I currently receive SSDI, by Ree (not verified)
Hi Ree,
Hi Ree,
You would still be eligible for Medicare benefits, however you may want to check in with the office in your state that handles Medicaid regarding your state's criteria for Medicaid, as marital status may change that.
I had a brain aneurysm when i
I had a brain aneurysm when i was 12 years old. this caused me to have a stroke and i am semi paralyzed on my left side. this also caused me to have several medical needs too. I get $684 a month and i think i get medicare and medicaid to pay my medical bills. i am now 37 years old and i think i might want to move out of my parents house and get married one day. I am mostly concerned with the medical insurance that pays my doctors bill. what will happen if i move out of my parents house and live with a room mate?what will happen if i get married?
In reply to I had a brain aneurysm when i by julie honeycutt (not verified)
Hi Julie,
Hi Julie,
I am very sorry to hear that. If you receive SSDI, living with a roommate and getting married would not effect your benefits.
If you receive SSI and live with a roommate, your SSI would only be affected if he/she supported you financially and getting married would effect your SSI benefits.
Best of Luck,
Eric
My boyfriend receives a
My boyfriend receives a disability check he lives in tippicanoe county if we ever decided to get married will he lose his check?
In reply to My boyfriend receives a by Christina (not verified)
Hi Christina,
Hi Christina,
Getting married will not effect your boyfriend's SSDI benefits.
Best of Luck,
Eric
My new husband receives ssdi
My new husband receives ssdi . Now that we are married I'm told we should be getting more money in his check is this true.
In reply to My new husband receives ssdi by Gail (not verified)
Hi Gail,
Hi Gail,
That's not necessarily the case. Spouses married for at least a year, divorced spouses who were married at least 10 years, and surviving spouses can be entitled to benefits based on the earnings record of the disabled spouse (or disabled ex-spouse). You would have to apply first.
Best of Luck,
Eric
Will my husband disability
Will my husband disability get cut off if I'm working
In reply to Will my husband disability by Shelia Jones (not verified)
Hi Sheila,
Hi Sheila,
If your husband is receiving income based benefits, the SSA may determine his benefit amount based on your household's income.
If my kids get disability and
If my kids get disability and I remarry will my kids lose their benefits
In reply to If my kids get disability and by Amy (not verified)
Hi Amy,
Hi Amy,
I really could not say, but if you remarry your children's benefits would be calculated by your household's income and financial resources.
Can you get disability if you
Can you get disability if you are already married?
In reply to Can you get disability if you by Yd (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may be able to, it might be a good idea to contact a disability advocate or attorney, you can get in touch with one by filling out this form:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/form/free-disability-evaluation
Can I get married if I'm
Can I get married if I'm on my own work ssdi and he doesn't have any income...child is receiving own ssi 21 years old. And other child is receiving check on off me 16 years old.
In reply to Can I get married if I'm by Debbie (not verified)
Hi Debbie,
Hi Debbie,
It's really up to you if you'd like to get married, but the SSA may not change your 16 year old's benefits if your household's income does not change.
What happens if while waiting
What happens if while waiting on SSI I get married.. I already get SSD...400 a month
In reply to What happens if while waiting by Kak (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
The SSA may determine your eligibility based on your household's income rather than your individual income after marriage.
So if I married a lady on
So if I married a lady on disability and im 66 years old and drawing disability myself does this mean that she may lose her disability check
In reply to So if I married a lady on by Anonymous (not verified)
Getting married will not
Getting married will not affect either of your SSDI benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
As of right now my boyfriend
As of right now my boyfriend receives SSI...he is 55; I should be getting my SSDI sometime this year...I am 51. If we were to get married, how will our marriage effect each of our benefits?
In reply to As of right now my boyfriend by Missy (not verified)
Hi Missy,
Hi Missy,
Getting married will not affect your SSDI benefits.
As for your boyfriend's SSI, if you get married, the SSA will “deem” a portion of your income to your boyfriend's record. This means that they will consider your income income to be apart of his income as well. This may significantly reduce his payment or even cause the SSA to terminate his benefits altogether.
Best Wishes,
Eric
yes my husband and I got
yes my husband and I got married a year and a half ago and I had not gone down and notified social security . This last November we had to move from California to Arizona due to cost of living expenses being much more reasonable , and someone just offered me a care taking job full time for 1600 a month , that's twice what I get a month from ssi , and my husband gets ssdi , my question is this is our getting married going to effect eather of our checks , and sense I went down to get a replacment card today for posible employment in the near future I told them I got married this last november and they acted like I did something criminal by not notifying them sooner what is going to happen if anything at all ?
In reply to yes my husband and I got by Rebecca (not verified)
Hi Rebecca,
Hi Rebecca,
Getting married will not affect your husband's SSDI benefits. It may however affect your SSI benefits.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I collect survivors benefits
I collect survivors benefits under my husband, thinking of marrying another of my husband's. He is almost 63 and has been on SSD for 12 years. I am 73 and collecting survivors benefits off of a different husband whos been deceased for about 7 years. How will that affect our income? Currently he makes money being my care provider .
In reply to I collect survivors benefits by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may still be eligible to receive survivor's benefits from your deceased husband's work record if you are over the age of 60.
I just got married and I&#039
I just got married and I'm disable , so is my spouse is alo disable. My question is would this affect our disability checks.? I'm 59 and he is 57 and a veteran.
9
In reply to I just got married and I' by Cynthia (not verified)
Hi Cynthia,
Hi Cynthia,
If one or both of you receive income-based SSI benefits, then it may affect your benefits. If neither of you receive benefits based on income, it would have no effect on your benefits.
Im just wondering my son gets
Im just wondering my son gets ssi and I am going to be getting married. But he is possibly going to prison how does this effect my sons checks? Evin if my soon to be husband isn't or won't be making any income behind bars?
In reply to Im just wondering my son gets by J.S. (not verified)
Hi JS,
Hi JS,
If your son is in prison for more than one month then his SSI benefits will stop completely.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I was married in 1972. We
I was married in 1972. We divorced in 1980; he remarried immediately. He died in 2003. His widow remarried another man immediately thereafter. Do I have the right to draw from his SS? I am single!
I am on SSDI, due to a work injury & am starving. Can't I claim against his SS? His widow is married again,.
In reply to I was married in 1972. We by Paula Green (not verified)
Hi Paula,
Hi Paula,
You may want to speak with a representative from the SSA regarding your unique situation. 1-800-772-1213
Best Wishes,
Eric
Me and my wife both on
Me and my wife both on disability and when we got marry our check lower like $200 why is that
In reply to Me and my wife both on by Nathan Vinson (not verified)
Hi Nathan,
Hi Nathan,
The SSA “deemed” a portion of your spouse’s income onto your record. This means that they consider your wife’s income to be your income as well, causing the amount to go down.
Best Wishes,
Eric
I am currently on survivors
I am currently on survivors benefits from my father who passed away as well as my own disability. I am getting married soon. My fiancé is retired military with a 90% disability rating currently (hoping to get it to 100%) but not receiving ssi himself only va benefits. Will I lose my benefits when we marry?
In reply to I am currently on survivors by Andrea (not verified)
Hi Andrea,
Hi Andrea,
If you're receiving benefits based off of your father's work record as a disabled adult child, your benefits may change. It may be a good idea to contact your local SSA office regarding this, you can find a listing of them here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
If I get remarried not to her
If I get remarried not to her biological father but to a man not related to her will I loose her ssi note her father does not pay child support or see her in anyway
In reply to If I get remarried not to her by My completely … (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
If you get remarried, your child's benefits may be calculated based on your household income, which would include your future spouse's earnings as well.
I have been with my same sex
I have been with my same sex partner for 26 years and we are both getting ss disability. Will that be affected if we get married?
In reply to I have been with my same sex by Victor (not verified)
Hi Victor,
Hi Victor,
It may if either of your benefits are income-based SSI benefits.
im 54 i get $635. from ssd
im 54 i get $635. from ssd $118. from ssi $167. in food stamps we want to get married she is 50 gets $1002. from ssd $16.food stamps what would change if we did get married would we get less
In reply to im 54 i get $635. from ssd by mikey (not verified)
Hi Mikey,
Hi Mikey,
You may become ineligible for SSI benefits as they are calculated based on household income for married individuals.
I'm on disability &
I'm on disability & my girlfriend is collecting retirement, if we get married, will our income change ?
In reply to I'm on disability & by Bert (not verified)
Hi Bert,
Hi Bert,
If you are collecting SSDI benefits, then getting married would not affect your benefits.
Best of Luck,
Eric
Hi i was wondering if i marry
Hi i was wondering if i marry my man thats in jail will this affect my ssi
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