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 My fiance just started by Hi (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
I am so sorry to hear that. If you get married your SSDI will not be affected.
If your finance is on SSI benefits, getting married may affect his benefits because the SSA will consider your income as apart of his. However, if he is on SSDI benefits like you are then it will not be affected.
I have a question I am
I have a question I am currently on Social Security I am married to a man that is already on disability as well but we are separated and fixing to be divorce how will this affect my benefits what would my benefits be as a single woman. And what steps do I need to make to make changes in my disability payments
In reply to I have a question I am by Trina McCandless (not verified)
Hi Trina,
Hi Trina,
If you are receiving SSDI based on your own earnings, then you will not have any changes to your SSDI. If you are receiving SSI, then your payments may increase because SSI is based on household income. You will need to report the divorce to the SSA within 10 days of it being finalized. You can do so in person at your local office or by calling the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
My boyfriend and i have
My boyfriend and i have recently been talking about getting married but dont want to lose my disability i get both ssi and ssa i have to have my insurance no way we could afford my seizure medicine even with him working his job is only seasonal how would that affect my disability
In reply to My boyfriend and i have by Katie Baskett (not verified)
Hi Katie,
Hi Katie,
If you are on SSI, your husband's income will count towards your qualifications for it. SSI is based on the household income so depending on what his monthly income is, your SSI may be reduced or stopped.
I currently receive SSDI for
I currently receive SSDI for my autoimmune illnesses. If I decided to get married down the road will that affect my benefits? If so then how?
In reply to I currently receive SSDI for by Oklahoma gal (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Getting married will not affect your benefits. SSDI is base on your own record.
I receive social security
I receive social security disability. If I marry can I lose it and if I don’t lose it will I have to pay taxes on it since it would add to a future husbands household income?
In reply to I receive social security by Steph (not verified)
Hi Steph,
Hi Steph,
If you are on SSDI, there will be no affect due to being married because SSDI benefits are based on someone's disability not their income.
I am disabled now for 7+
I am disabled now for 7+ years now on SSDI, and my wife, who was always blind, was on SSI (she never worked) got kicked off SSI. Since then, she's found a very part time job (Subbing) and has worked 6 years now earning herself 17+ credits at the moment from her own earned income. ONce she gets to her 20 credits in another year or so, could she apply for her own SSDI benefits? Or will they just say only one "person" in the relationship can have SSDI benefits? That's our "big question" right now. She's disabled and yet no one acknowledges her as disabled b/c Social security kicked her off SSI despite her being legally blind.
In reply to I am disabled now for 7+ by Chris D. - Texas (not verified)
Hi Chris,
Hi Chris,
If your wife has enough work credits and meets the medical qualifications, then she should most likely qualify for SSDI. But if she is able to work then she may not qualify.
If I get married and I am on
If I get married and I am on SSDI may I keep my insurance I have now ?
In reply to If I get married and I am on by Kathleen Krueger (not verified)
Hi Kathleen,
Hi Kathleen,
If you are on SSDI, then marriage will not impact your benefits.
I’m married have PTSD. And
I’m married have PTSD. And can’t hold a job. How does that affect my qualifying for benefits?
In reply to I’m married have PTSD. And by Gary (not verified)
Hi Gary,
Hi Gary,
If you are unable to maintain regular employment due to disability such as PTSD, you could qualify for SSDI benefits.
I'm on SSDI and am
I'm on SSDI and am thinking of getting married. My boyfriend is also on SSDI because he had a brain tumor when he was a baby and it affected him in some ways. Will either of our checks get taken if we get married? I got married once before while I was on SSDI and it didn't affect anything but I don't know about my boyfriend now because his is because of a disability when he was a baby.
In reply to I'm on SSDI and am by Sametta (not verified)
Hi Sametta,
Hi Sametta,
No it will not be affected if your boyfriend is also on SSDI. SSDI is based on your disability and your spouse's income does not play a factor in it.
My girlfriend currently
My girlfriend currently receives SSI from her divorced husband who since passed away. We are to marry, will she be able to keep those Social security payments and be able to change her name to mine after marriage again without losing the payments?
In reply to My girlfriend currently by Mark (not verified)
Hi Mark,
Hi Mark,
She may not lose it all together, but there's a good chance it will be reduced. Because the SSA will count your income as apart of hers.
If I have no insurance
If I have no insurance currently. I have idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura it’s an autoimmune bleeding disorder.
Will I be able to qualify for SSDI?
Also my son has disability benefits he’s nonverbal autistic (insurance & $750 per month)
if I were to get married will his benefits get taken away? If my “husband” adopts him will his benefits be stopped?
In reply to If I have no insurance by Karen K (not verified)
Hi Karen,
Hi Karen,
You may be able to qualify. Your condition will need to meet the one outlined in Section 7.00. I would review it with your doctor. You will also need to have obtained enough work credits & not be able to work for a minimum of 12 months.
For your son, SSI is based on income, so if you get married, your new husband's income will be part of your sons technical qualifications. If your new husband makes a decent income, then your son's benefits may stop.
I have ssdi i want to get
I have ssdi i want to get married my fiancee works i have one child that recives disability through me as he is my dependent will his income impact mine and my sons income and i was born disabled.
In reply to I have ssdi i want to get by Cindy wade (not verified)
Hi Cindy,
Hi Cindy,
Not it won't because your SSDI is based on your own record not on income.
If I get disability and my
If I get disability and my husband gets ssi will it affect his check
In reply to If I get disability and my by Anonymous (not verified)
The SSA will consider your
The SSA will consider your income as apart of his once you get married. Since SSI is income based, there is a chance his SSI benefits will be reduced.
I want to marry my blind
I want to marry my blind girlfriend. Is there some way I can find out how my income will affect her benefits? I imagine it varies by state.
In reply to I want to marry my blind by Ryan (not verified)
Hi Ryan,
Hi Ryan,
You can check on the SSA's website or call the SSA at 1-800-227-1213. If she is receiving SSDI then your income will not affect her benefits. If she is receiving SSI then it will.
I receive SSA disability,and
I receive SSA disability,and I married an immigrant who has no green card as of yet. What affect will this have on my benefits?
In reply to I receive SSA disability,and by Josephette Cooper (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
It will have no effect, since SSDI is based on your record and not on income.
If I marry a man on SSDI,
If I marry a man on SSDI, will he lose his monthly amount or have it lowered in any way? I am on neither SSI or SSDI myself.
In reply to If I marry a man on SSDI, by Grace (not verified)
Hi Grace,
Hi Grace,
His SSDI will not be affected since it is based off his disability and not income.
I remarried but divorced
I remarried but divorced after 5 years. Can I collect social security from my 1st husband who is now diseased
In reply to I remarried but divorced by Norma Flores (not verified)
Hi Norma,
Hi Norma,
Because you remarried you cannot collect from your first husband.
If both parties receive ssdi,
If both parties receive ssdi, does it effect their income?
In reply to If both parties receive ssdi, by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
SSDI is not income based, but rather based on work credits so it should not be a problem if both parties receive SSDI.
Hi, Ive been collecting SSDi
Hi, Ive been collecting SSDi since 2010 and I might marry and she collects death benefits from her late husband. Will mine or hers benefits be effected? Thank you
In reply to Hi, Ive been collecting SSDi by William (not verified)
Hi William,
Hi William,
Yours will not be affected, since SSDI is based on your own record and not income. Hers could be, but I would recommend having her speaking to SSA represeantive just to be sure.
I get ssi and ssd will I lose
I get ssi and ssd will I lose it if I get married she makes like 1300 each mouth
In reply to I get ssi and ssd will I lose by Brian (not verified)
Hi Brian,
Hi Brian,
You won't lose your SSDI, but your SSI may be affected since it is based mainly on your income. And once you get married the SSA will consider your future spouse's income as a part of yours.
So I’m receiving SSI but I
So I’m receiving SSI but I got married due to the fact that I was pregnant my husband and newborn son live with me does this mean I will no longer receive benefits. My husband gets va benefits but that’s the only income he gets right now I do not work
In reply to So I’m receiving SSI but I by Jasmine (not verified)
Hi Jasmine,
Hi Jasmine,
It depends on how much is VA benefit is and what you have for assets.
Hi me and my boyfriend are
Hi me and my boyfriend are both totally blind, I was born with a heart condition that cause my blindness, and other health issues along the way, my boyfriend had a brain tumor, the question I want to ask is that will our SSDI and SSI affect if we decided to ever get married? Thanks from arizona
In reply to Hi me and my boyfriend are by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Your SSI benefits may be impacted if you get married. SSI is based on household income, which one married both will be taken into consideration.
My future husbands makes
My future husbands makes about 1600 a month..how much will my ssi check go down
In reply to My future husbands makes by Sharyn watkins (not verified)
Hi Sharyn,
Hi Sharyn,
I can't say for sure how much exactly, but the SSA will take your future husband's income into consideration.
If i get separated from my
If i get separated from my spouse and i get ssi will i get my full benefit back
In reply to If i get separated from my by Sandra (not verified)
Hi Sandra,
Hi Sandra,
It's possible, you should notify the SSA of that.
I am on ssd and have a
I am on ssd and have a question. If I remarry will my benefits be affected?
In reply to I am on ssd and have a by Becky (not verified)
Hi Becky,
Hi Becky,
If are receiving SSDI then marriage will not affect your benefits. If you are SSI, then they may because SSI is based on household income.
My finance get SSI. I make
My finance get SSI. I make $72K a year. If we get married, will he lose his SSI benefits?
Add new comment