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 get a SS check on the 3rd by Joanne (not verified)
Hi Joanne,
Hi Joanne,
Marriage should not affect SSDI. It can affect SSI though because SSI looks at household income, not just an individual's.
i wanting to get married and
i wanting to get married and I'm over the age of 50 and my future wife have never work,so how is this going to do to my benefits?
In reply to i wanting to get married and by Nye Williams (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
If you are on SSDI, your benefits will not be affected. If you are on SSI, it could because the SSA will take into consideration her income as apart of yours.
Best of luck,
thank you for taking the time
thank you for taking the time to write back to all these folks I have a question of my own.my partner and I want to get married one is SSD receiving 977 per month based on work history the other receiving SSI and SSD benefits receiving 750 per month. how will getting married effect us? we live in Oregon
In reply to thank you for taking the time by Michelle (not verified)
Hi Michelle,
Hi Michelle,
Getting married will not impact SSDI. It may impact SSI benefits as SSI is based on household income.
I am on SSDI and my boyfriend
I am on SSDI and my boyfriend is on a Ssdi and we want to get married what will happen do we lose our money post
In reply to I am on SSDI and my boyfriend by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
If you are both on SSDI, getting married won't affect your benefits.
If you just found out that
If you just found out that someone getting ssdi cause the kids real father is deceased and you remarry will it effect the ssdi benefits
In reply to If you just found out that by Brandy (not verified)
Hi Brandy,
Hi Brandy,
Not exactly because you can receive survivor's benefits for SSDI.
Hello! I have been on SSDI
Hello! I have been on SSDI for a long time due to my hearing impairment and a bad back. I like to marry my boyfriend but he getting ready to retire and collect his social security. Will this affect my SSDI?
In reply to Hello! I have been on SSDI by Cassie Bryan (not verified)
Hi Cassie,
Hi Cassie,
Marriage should not impact your SSDI.
my fiancé already receives
my fiancé already receives ssi and Medicaid. If I'm self employed will it still affect his benefits if we marry
In reply to my fiancé already receives by Tonya Rowell (not verified)
Hi Tonya,
Hi Tonya,
Marriage my impact his SSI as SSI takes into consideration household income.
Can someone collecting ssd
Can someone collecting ssd marry someone working for a state college and still collect disability without losing a portion before the age of 55
In reply to Can someone collecting ssd by Teresa (not verified)
Hi Teresa,
Hi Teresa,
Yes, your benefits will not be affected if you re on SSDI.
I am getting married, I am
I am getting married, I am unemployed due to my epilepsy, my fiance recieves ssi and i was wondering how that will effect her benefits
In reply to I am getting married, I am by Brian (not verified)
Hi Brian,
Hi Brian,
Marriage can impact SSI as SSI is based on a needs basis, so they look at the household income.
My husband and I are married
My husband and I are married he just got approved for ssdi under his father, but was on ssi do to being legally blind, I also receive ssi for the last 18yrs, him as well we are living together now will our income change or will they combine our income, reduce it??
In reply to My husband and I are married by Belinda Lyons (not verified)
Hi Belinda,
Hi Belinda,
His SSDI from his father's benefits will not be affected. How ever each of your SSI payments will.
If you get married, the SSA will “deem” a portion of your spouse’s income to your record. This means that they will consider your husband's income to be your income as well.
I am planning on getting
I am planning on getting married soon and i am on ssdi will that affect my benefits?
In reply to I am planning on getting by lura albaugh (not verified)
Hi Lura,
Hi Lura,
Marriage should not impact your SSDI.
I am planning on getting
I am planning on getting married soon and i am on ssdi will that affect my benefits?
In reply to I am planning on getting by lura albaugh (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Getting married will not affect your benefits.
My question is if you are on
My question is if you are on ssdi and you have a baby and you get married and your husband is on ssi how then would that affect our benefits?
In reply to My question is if you are on by Rosielee (not verified)
Hi Rosielee,
Hi Rosielee,
Marriage should not affect your benefits, but it may impact your husband's. SSI is a based on household income, rather than an individuals.
I get 1149 a month combined
I get 1149 a month combined with my kids. I'm getting married and he gets 750 SSI how will this affect our checks? With out the kids income I make 880.00
In reply to I get 1149 a month combined by Shoshanna (not verified)
Hi Shoshanna,
Hi Shoshanna,
If you are receiving SSDI than his payments will not impact your benefits after marriage. But because he is on SSI your payments may impact his as SSI is based on household income. I would contact the SSA to find out if his will change.
I have Social Security
I have Social Security Disability. I got on it when I was 21 so I'm not sure if it's under my parents work record or not. I called SS and I asked them what would happen. They told me that checks will stop if my husband makes over 750 a month. They said it rather coldly. Once they've dropped me will they continue to investigate me every few years and will I have to continue to report every change in my life to them?
In reply to I have Social Security by Sarah (not verified)
Hi Sarah,
Hi Sarah,
If you are on SSI, household income is a contributing factor to qualifying. Your husband's salary can impact your benefits if he makes more than the SSA's monthly income limit for SSI.
my boyfriend is receiving ssi
my boyfriend is receiving ssi and we want to get married but i work parttime and dont want him to lose his ssi
In reply to my boyfriend is receiving ssi by amy (not verified)
Hi Amy,
Hi Amy,
You can contact the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to see if you're income will affect his benefits. If you make over a certain amount it may.
A question? I am on SSDI and
A question? I am on SSDI and my spouse haven't been working for the last 2 years, but goes back to work Tuesday. Will I lose my SSDI or will my SSDI be cut down a little ?
In reply to A question? I am on SSDI and by Kaye (not verified)
Hi Kaye,
Hi Kaye,
Not necessarily, if your monthly income exceeds $850 a month, you could trigger a trial work period from the SSA.
If I am recieving ssi &
If I am recieving ssi & ssd if i marry will my benefits stop and my medicare?
In reply to If I am recieving ssi & by Christine (not verified)
Hi Christine,
Hi Christine,
SSI is based on household income so if you get married and your spouse makes more than the income limit your SSI may be lowered or stopped. You can call the SSA at 1-800-772-1213 to find out what will happen in your specific situation.
I am on SSDI my boyfriend is
I am on SSDI my boyfriend is on SSI I work pt and we now have a daughter if we get married will we lose our benefits?
In reply to I am on SSDI my boyfriend is by Maria (not verified)
Hi Maria,
Hi Maria,
Your SSDI will not be affected, since SSDI is based on your disability and not on income. His SSI will be affected your income as apart of his.
My new husband was receiving
My new husband was receiving disability benefits on his own work record. His disability benefits were terminated. An appeal was filed. Do I need to get an attorney, this does not seem right
Hi I receive SSI and just got
Hi I receive SSI and just got married and my husband works and his gross is about $1700 before takes I’m just wondering if this will affect my income
In reply to Hi I receive SSI and just got by Angeliyah Hugh… (not verified)
Hi Angeliyah,
Hi Angeliyah,
SSI considers household income so your husband's earnings may be higher the limit, causing your benefits to go down or be stopped.
How long do you have to be
How long do you have to be married to recieve benefits off your husbands ssi or ssa
In reply to How long do you have to be by carolynn scott (not verified)
Hi Carolynn,
Hi Carolynn,
You will need to have been married for at least 10 years.
I get $750 in SSI per month
I get $750 in SSI per month & if I marry my Military man, will I lose my benefits or will they decrease ??
In reply to I get $750 in SSI per month by Shannon Frase (not verified)
Hi Shannon,
Hi Shannon,
You may not lose them all together, but it will probably be decreased depending on how much your future spouse makes. The SSA will consider his income as apart of yours once you get married.
I am on SSDI from my own
I am on SSDI from my own record. If I marry my girlfriend, who has a daughter who has Down Syndrome, and receives SSDI (the daughter does), will her SSDI be affected?
Thanks
In reply to I am on SSDI from my own by Mark (not verified)
Hi Mark,
Hi Mark,
If the daughter is receiving SSDI, then your marriage would not impact it.
If me and my boyfriend are
If me and my boyfriend are both on disability and ssi and we both own property of our own before we get married will we lose our payments or have to sell our homes
If I marry my fiance and I
If I marry my fiance and I draw 1200 a month will my income cut out his qmb? Extra help? He draws ssdi
In reply to If I marry my fiance and I by Regina (not verified)
Hi Regina,
Hi Regina,
If you get married your spouse's income will not be affected because he is on SSDI for his own record.
My fiance just started
My fiance just started getting ss he has been diagnosed with a terminal cancer. I am on SSDI have been for awhile if we get married will it affect our ss?
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