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 Hi i was wondering if i marry by Jessica (not verified)
Hi Jessica,
Hi Jessica,
Getting married may affect your SSI benefits.
Best,
Eric
Currently I receive child
Currently I receive child benefits and ssi. Can I work enough credits to get my own ssdi and not receive child benefits anymore?
In reply to Currently I receive child by Muriel (not verified)
Hi Muriel,
Hi Muriel,
You may be able to. There are some circumstances where a person can qualify to receive SSI And SSDI benefits at the same time.
Best Of Luck,
Eric
My boyfriend has been on SSI
My boyfriend has been on SSI (Disability) -thats what his file says.
sense he was 18. I am not on any kind of support i just work a job, Will my income effect his when we get married. its hard for me to know because his file is labeled SSI (Disability) not sure if there is a difference is SSI vs SSDI
In reply to My boyfriend has been on SSI by Monika K (not verified)
Hi Monika,
Hi Monika,
The difference between SSI and SSDI is that SSI is income-based, and SSDI is based on work record. Your boyfriend's benefit amount would be affected by marriage, however you may want to contact a local SSA office regarding this to get information based on his particular case.
Hi can i get on my my fiances
Hi can i get on my my fiances benfits even if were not married been together for 16 yrs
In reply to Hi can i get on my my fiances by Ruth arnold (not verified)
Hi Ruth,
Hi Ruth,
You may not be able to do so as the SSA generally only provides benefits to dependents or to spouses.
i been engaged for 5 years i
i been engaged for 5 years i just want to know can i get married? in city hall my fiance is not working would it be possible that i will lose my SSI
In reply to i been engaged for 5 years i by Destiny Elisa … (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
Getting married may affect your SSI.
Best Wishes,
Eric
my boyfriend receive Social
my boyfriend receive Social Security disability and has stage 4 cancer I want to move in with him to help take care of him but I'm wondering if it will affect his income right now I am not working due to staying home with him so I don't think it would would I would appreciate if anybody knows if it would or not
In reply to my boyfriend receive Social by Susie (not verified)
Hi Susie,
Hi Susie,
I am sorry to hear that, but fortunately it would not affect his SSDI benefits.
-Eric
If I am drawing my SSDI can I
If I am drawing my SSDI can I apply for my SSI and receive them
In reply to If I am drawing my SSDI can I by Gary Carnline (not verified)
Hi Gary,
Hi Gary,
In certain circumstances one can receive both SSDI and SSI at the same time.
Best
Eric
I am on Social Security,, I
I am on Social Security,, I am getting married to a retired vet. What do I do ,to inform Social Security,, will it affect mu check and benefits
In reply to I am on Social Security,, I by Anonymous (not verified)
If you are on SSDI your
If you are on SSDI your benefits will not be affected, but if you are on SSI, they may be affected. You can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 or visit your local office.
If i marry a illegale
If i marry a illegale immagrant that has no paper will i loose my ssi
In reply to If i marry a illegale by Kayla mackenzie (not verified)
Hi Kayla,
Hi Kayla,
You may not lose benefits due to the immigration status of your spouse.
I engaged to be married, only
I engaged to be married, only thing is stopping me us ,I on SSD and my fiance is also on SSD, and I am under my father record.the question is will it effect my SSD
In reply to I engaged to be married, only by Anonymous (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
Getting married will not affect SSDI benefits.
-Eric
I am 63 my husband passed 10
I am 63 my husband passed 10 years ago and I am on SSDI from his Social Security if I should get married do I lose these benefits?
In reply to I am 63 my husband passed 10 by Margo (not verified)
Hi Margo,
Hi Margo,
Since you are over the age of 60, your remarriage will not affect your survivors benefits.
-Eric
Hi there,
Hi there,
I have a friend who has been collecting SSDI since her military father died when she was 18. She was born with a severe learning disability, she is 52 but her mental age is younger. She is wanting to get married to another person who was born with a severe learning disability who has been collecting SSDI since he was a child. They live in NY. Will their benefits be affected?
Thank you so much!
In reply to Hi there, by Linda Mack (not verified)
Hi Linda,
Hi Linda,
Adult disabled children who receive benefits based on their parents work record may lose benefits if they marry, however some marriages may be exempt, including the marriage of a disabled adult to another. You may want to contact your local SSA office regarding this, as they can give you detailed information about this type of scenario that would be specific to their case.
I live in new mexico, and i
I live in new mexico, and i am 50 years old. I've been getting disabilty 17 years.
I can lose it just because i got marref.
In reply to I live in new mexico, and i by Deedee (not verified)
Hi DeeDee,
Hi DeeDee,
You would not lose it due to marriage, you may experience a change in benefits due to a change in how the SSA would assess your benefits if you receive income-based SSI benefits.
If I'm on SSI and my
If I'm on SSI and my boyfriend is on SSDI under his fathers retirement will marriage effect our check?
In reply to If I'm on SSI and my by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
It may as benefits for disabled adult children may end after the disabled adult child marries. In addition, SSI benefits are calculated based on household income for married people.
If I were to Mattie will they
If I were to Mattie will they cut my check and Medicaid if he makes under 3000,00 per month
In reply to If I were to Mattie will they by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
They may change your benefits as household income is used to determine benefits for married SSI recipients.
MY HUSBAND GETS SSDI ON HIS
MY HUSBAND GETS SSDI ON HIS OWN EARNINGS. WHEN HE PASSES AWAY WOULD I OR OUR CHILD BE ABLE CLAIM HIS BENIFTS LIKE MY HUSBAND SAYS WE CAN?
In reply to MY HUSBAND GETS SSDI ON HIS by KRISTAL (not verified)
Hi Krystal,
Hi Krystal,
Your children may be eligible for survivor's benefits until they are 18.
-Eric
My boys receive derivative
My boys receive derivative benefits due to their father being disabled. I am the primary care giver of the boys and have sole custody. If i remarry will I loss the boys benefits ?
In reply to My boys receive derivative by Andrea (not verified)
Hi Andrea,
Hi Andrea,
Your children won't lose their benefits.
-Eric
Would getting married affect
Would getting married affect my insurance coverage cause I'm on dialysis and with many other health issues.
In reply to Would getting married affect by Lee (not verified)
Hi Lee,
Hi Lee,
If you are on SSDI then getting married would not affect your benefits.
-Eric
Hi if my husband gets ssi
Hi if my husband gets ssi benefit we have just got married but i do not live in the us until we file for visas will his benifits stop just becuse we are married or do we have to love together for it to effect him ?
In reply to Hi if my husband gets ssi by Micha (not verified)
Hi Micha,
Hi Micha,
Your husband's SSI benefits may be affected. He should notify the SSA about your marriage.
Best of Luck,
Eric
I'm disabled n work part
I'm disabled n work part time per rules husband has COPD n does not work how does that effect me. I make under the amount as per the 36 month limit
In reply to I'm disabled n work part by Maria (not verified)
Hi Maria,
Hi Maria,
That may not affect your benefits at all, however if you're receiving income-based benefits, your husband's income may affect them.
my husband is on ssdi
my husband is on ssdi disability...... I just filed for early retirement will get in Sept. .... will this effect what we will pay in taxes on his or my ss
as of now we dont pay any on his
In reply to my husband is on ssdi by brenda (not verified)
Hi Brenda,
Hi Brenda,
It may not affect any taxes, however retirement income is not subject to FICA taxes.
If my fiance has a part time
If my fiance has a part time job would it effect my SSI disability income
In reply to If my fiance has a part time by Ray Valentine (not verified)
Hi Ray,
Hi Ray,
It may as SSI benefits for married couples is determined by household, not individual income.
If I'm on SSI and my
If I'm on SSI and my boyfriend is on SSDI under a parent and we both have permanent disability if we get married will it effect our checks?
In reply to If I'm on SSI and my by Madisen (not verified)
Hi Madisen,
Hi Madisen,
It may affect your SSI as SSI benefits for married couples is determined by household, not individual income. It will not affect his SSDI though.
-Eric
If i mary someone else with
If i mary someone else with a disability will i loose my ssdi frkm a parent ?
In reply to If i mary someone else with by Mj (not verified)
Hi MJ,
Hi MJ,
You will not lose your SSDI.
-Eric
Okay, so...
Okay, so...
1. I am on SSDI (Disability).
2. My girlfriend is on SSI (standard).
If we got married, how will this affect our combined income?
Its apparent (based on the information read above) that my SSDI will not be affected because its based on my personal work history.
Now, my major concern is, will (and how) my girlfriend's income is going to be affected.
In reply to Okay, so... by Kory (not verified)
Hi Kory,
Hi Kory,
You are correct, your SSDI will not be affected by getting married.
Once you get married the SSA will “deem” a portion of your income to your spouse’s record. Basically, this means that they will consider your income to be your wife’s income as well, which could decease her SSI or get rid of it all together.
Best Wishes,
Eric
If my husband to be is on ssd
If my husband to be is on ssd and I'm on ssi and ssd what would happen to me
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