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
So my fiancé gets SSI for
So my fiancé gets SSI for disability. In her case I don't ever see her working again. I've been with here for 8 years and have two children with her and would love to finally tie the knot and get married but she's afraid she will lose her benefits. I'm not rich by any means but have a steady full time job. Will she lose her benifits if we got married? It's like losing out on 740 a month if she were to lose her benefits, so if that's the case it's almost like why bother cause that would hurt us financially. if it doesn't affect her benefits that would be great cause it's the only thing holding back the completion of our little family.
In reply to So my fiancé gets SSI for by Drew (not verified)
Hi Drew,
Hi Drew,
She may not lose it all together, but it could be significantly reduced.
Best Wishes,
Eric
My husband and I are
My husband and I are seperated . I receive SSI and he gets SSDI. If we decide to work things out...how will this affect my SSI ? He gets $950 a month...his only income.
In reply to My husband and I are by Y Taylor (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Your SSI rate would go from an individual rate to a couples' rate.
-Eric
I have a friend that is
I have a friend that is getting married but is not going to sign the marriage license so she can still get her dead husband ssi is this legal
In reply to I have a friend that is by Friend (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
If she is receiving her dead husband's income-based disability benefits, then that would not be legal.
Hi, my sister and my bro in
Hi, my sister and my bro in law wants to get married, my bro in law receives SSDI, his family members called them and told them he will lose his benefits once he is married to my sister, especially Health Care wise, they are terrified because he gets seizures and if he goes under her minimum wage job medical benefits it will barley cover any of his medical expenses. Is this true? Will he lose his benefits for marrying my sister?
In reply to Hi, my sister and my bro in by Jessica (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
If he is receiving benefits based off of his work record, his benefits would not change. If he is receiving benefits based off of his income, that may change but his eligibility for Medicaid may not change depending on your state's Medicaid eligibility guidelines.
In reply to Hi there, by Bryan
Thanks Bryan,
Thanks Bryan,
I think that may be there fear that I guess according to the guidelines maybe adding her income he wont get Medicaid anymore. I'm not sure.
In reply to Thanks Bryan, by Jessica (not verified)
Hi Jessica,
Hi Jessica,
You may want to reach out to your local SSA office regarding this, you can find a listing of them here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
I would like to marry a lady
I would like to marry a lady from Thailand, but I am on a disability support pension.
Is this possible?
In reply to I would like to marry a lady by Al (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
You may be able to, but you should always double check with any questions you may have.
-Eric
Would I be eligible to
Would I be eligible to receive disability if im separated from my husband? I understand not eligible if married but if I'm only married to receive my husbands medical insurance but we do not live in the same house, would I still qualify?
In reply to Would I be eligible to by Jennifer (not verified)
Hi Jennifer,
Hi Jennifer,
Separated or not, you'd be eligible for benefits under his account if you're age 62, 50 and disabled, or sharing care for his child under age 16.
My fiance and I both receive
My fiance and I both receive a monthly check. What will happen when we get married?
In reply to My fiance and I both receive by Dawn m (not verified)
Hi Dawn,
Hi Dawn,
If you are on SSDI it won't be affected if you are on SSI it may be.
-Eric
My girl friend is 32 and I am
My girl friend is 32 and I am 42 she receives ssi and I receive social security we are thinking about marriage, so my Q is if we decide with this will this decrease either her income or mine???
In reply to My girl friend is 32 and I am by Wylie teeters (not verified)
Hi Wylie,
Hi Wylie,
SSI for married individuals is determined by household income, and as such it may affect your girlfriend's benefits.
Hi I have Ssdi my question is
Hi I have Ssdi my question is if down the road I decided to get married do I loose all my benefits for me and my kid
In reply to Hi I have Ssdi my question is by Trisha (not verified)
HI Trisha,
HI Trisha,
If you're receiving benefits based on your work record, they would not change.
In reply to Hi I have Ssdi my question is by Trisha (not verified)
HI Trisha,
HI Trisha,
If you're receiving benefits based on your work record, they would not change.
My husban is receiving SSDI.
My husban is receiving SSDI. Am I intitle to some of it?
In reply to My husban is receiving SSDI. by Darnyell (not verified)
HI Darnyell,
HI Darnyell,
You may be, however 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…
Hello,
Hello,
I am in the process of marrying my girlfriend and I get SSDI on my own record and earnings. Will my girlfriend be entitled to draw dependent or spouse's benefits off of my record? Will marriage affect my benefits or reduce it...also if she is entitled will there be a limit to how much income she can make while receiving benefits off my record?
In reply to Hello, by Rashawn (not verified)
HI Rashawn,
HI Rashawn,
If you're getting benefits based off of your work record, your spouse may be eligible for benefits under some circumstances, but your benefits would not be reduced due to marriage.
I'm sorry, I didn't
I'm sorry, I didn't complete my first question.
My husband is receiving ssdi. Although we are not living together, am I in title to some of it?.
In reply to I'm sorry, I didn't by Darnyell (not verified)
Hi Darnyell,
Hi Darnyell,
In some circumstances, you may be eligible for benefits. You may want to contact your local SSA office regarding this.
i get ssd dose she get money
i get ssd dose she get money from my ssd i have a son with her he gets money me and wife don't live together we separated but not on paper
In reply to i get ssd dose she get money by mattthew gall (not verified)
Hi Matthew,
Hi Matthew,
In certain cases a spouse can qualify for benefits off of someone's SSDI.
Best of Luck,
I am in the final stages on
I am in the final stages on receiving my SSDI and will get my back pay. If I get married will that take away my back pay or just disqualify my future payments based on his income. Also will it stop the process of where I am at if I got married losing all of the back pay which I have worked for 30 year of my life before becoming disabled
In reply to I am in the final stages on by Dianna (not verified)
Hi Dianna,
Hi Dianna,
If you are receiving benefits based off of your work record, you may not lose benefits due to marriage.
My husband is already on
My husband is already on disability. Now I am at a point where I am having extreme difficulty and may have to file for myself. We are both over 50. If I have to file, will we be penalized or will I receive less than what my SS report told me I would be getting, if I file for disability now? We struggle already .... but my entire family is telling me that it is time.
In reply to My husband is already on by Frazier (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may receive what your social security report had indicated, generally if you start to receive SSDI benefits you would receive the same amount in retirement.
I have ssi and ssd. If I get
I have ssi and ssd. If I get married and my ssi stops will the amount I get for ssd go up. Also how does ssi or ssd effect u when u have kids.
In reply to I have ssi and ssd. If I get by Brittany (not verified)
Hi Brittany,
Hi Brittany,
It might not go up, but it won't be affected. Your children can still qualify for auxiliary benefits under your SSD.
Hello, my son is autistic and
Hello, my son is autistic and currently revieves SSI Disability, i am expecting to be married soon. I have no other income but my future husband makes 34,000 annually. Will thry stop my sons benefits. I also have 2 other children in the household ( not receiving disability benefits). Please advice, thank you!
In reply to Hello, my son is autistic and by Michelle (not verified)
Hi Michelle,
Hi Michelle,
I really could not say, but an SSA representative may be able to give you a better picture of the changes that may create with your child's SSI benefits. You can find a listing of local SSA offices here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
If I receive ssdi due to my
If I receive ssdi due to my disability but draw it from my deceased wife income...do I lose this if I remarry and she works
In reply to If I receive ssdi due to my by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
If you remarry before the age of 60, you cannot collect survivors benefits. If you remarry after age 60, you can still receive survivors benefits based on your former spouse’s record.
My friend and her boyfriend
My friend and her boyfriend both collect individual SSDI benefits. How would they're getting married affect their benefits?
In reply to My friend and her boyfriend by sammie (not verified)
Hi Sammie,
Hi Sammie,
Since they are on SSDI, getting married won't affect their benefits.
If my boyfriend receives ssi
If my boyfriend receives ssi will they cut his check off if we get married I also work 20 hours a week and my 3 kids received death benefits dued to there father passing
In reply to If my boyfriend receives ssi by Jazzy (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
They might not cut it off all together, but will change due to the fact that they will count your income as well.
Do I have to wait for my
Do I have to wait for my husband to become disabled or dies or retires for his Social Security in order to qualify for his Social Security Disability I am on SSI because of a disability we filed our taxes married jointly shouldn't no go by return just say if I qualify for SSD instead of SSI
In reply to Do I have to wait for my by gail (not verified)
Hi Gail,
Hi Gail,
You may be eligible for benefits based off of his account under certain circumstances, for example if you are over 50 and disabled, and he is also receiving disability or SSA benefits.
In reply to Do I have to wait for my by gail (not verified)
Hi Gail,
Hi Gail,
You may be eligible for benefits based off of his account under certain circumstances, for example if you are over 50 and disabled, and he is also receiving disability or SSA benefits.
If I am married, can I
If I am married, can I receive health insurance benefits through Medicaid/SSDI if I am partially disabled and either cannot work at all or can only work PT? My husband has health insurance options for family, however we might not afford to get by on the premiums and constant doctor copays if I don't have an income. Further, will his salary be a factor in me getting SSDI to begin with? I live in NYS.
In reply to If I am married, can I by Shannon (not verified)
HI Shannon,
HI Shannon,
The SSA would only award benefits if you are considered disabled by their criteria, they do not award benefits for partial disability. You may be eligible for health benefits based off of your disability award, and marital status does not affect SSDI benefits.
I've finally changed my
I've finally changed my name back to my maiden one with the DMV and SSA and my bank. I'm needing to know if I need to change it seperately from SSA card for my SSI Disability monthly auto deposit checks. Thx
In reply to I've finally changed my by Carrie Warkentin (not verified)
Hi Carrie,
Hi Carrie,
You may not need to, however it's a good idea to contact a local SSA office regarding this. You can find a listing of them here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
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