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 If my husband to be is on ssd by Sandra (not verified)
Hi Sandra,
Hi Sandra,
Your husband's SSDI won't be affected and neither will your SSDI. But your SSI may be affected because they'll consider your future husband income to be your income as well, which could decrease your SSI or get rid of it all together.
-Eric
If a man recieves S.S.D and a
If a man recieves S.S.D and a woman recieves S.S.I and they get married in another country & are U.S. Citizens do they have to report it to the S.S.A , by law or can they just keep it 2 themselves?
In reply to If a man recieves S.S.D and a by Cathy (not verified)
Hi Kathy,
Hi Kathy,
They would have to report that to the SSA. Especially in regards to the woman's SSI.
-Eric
I was married before I was
I was married before I was approved for disability payments. I never changed my last name though. Now I would like to. Will that affect receiving monthly payments or put me in the spot light for reavaluation?
In reply to I was married before I was by SMcT (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
No, it won't affect your disability benefits. But you should notify the SSA regarding your name change.
-Eric
If you marry a UK citizen
If you marry a UK citizen who had no job and only on a 90 day visa would that cause your ssdi to terminate?
In reply to If you marry a UK citizen by Anonymous (not verified)
Marriage does not affect SSDI
Marriage does not affect SSDI benefits.
-Eric
In reply to Marriage does not affect SSDI by Eric
Would it effect ssi ?
Would it effect ssi ?
In reply to Would it effect ssi ? by Anonymous (not verified)
Getting married may decrease
Getting married may decrease your SSI benefits or get rid of them all together.
-Eric
In reply to Getting married may decrease by Eric
Would that cause a
Would that cause a overpayment and say for instance people or a parent says you don't have have to inform ssa and you are under said parent benefits and you had no idea what the specific law was because you were never told how would you handle that
In reply to Would that cause a by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
I couldn't say it would cause an overpayment, but marriage may change household income, and as such, you may want to contact the SSA regarding this to ensure that benefits are paid in the correct amount.
In reply to Hi there, by Bryan
My father said that I didn&
My father said that I didn't have to let them know that I got married in 2010 and he died in 2011 I didn't know ssi was under his and it took until 2013 to be divorced from my ex wife and she was not a us citizen and during the marriage and they hit me with a penalty who do I talk to?
In reply to My father said that I didn& by Anonymous (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
You could talk to a representative from the SSA regarding your case. 1-800-772-1213.
-Eric
In reply to Hello, by Eric
They pretty much said that it
They pretty much said that it was my fault either way I look and I'd come across more paperwork last night that did not make sense and it would pretty much move that I was being screwed over by my own father my psychiatrist already said I should seek legal representation on the grounds that my father was making decisions for me that he should not have made
I get ssdi from my parent. My
I get ssdi from my parent. My bf gets ssd and ssi. If we get married will i loose my ssdi?
In reply to I get ssdi from my parent. My by Mj (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may lose your SSDI benefits based on your parent's work record if you get married, however you may want to contact the SSA regarding that as some people receiving Disabled Adult Child benefits may be exempt from those rules.
Would it affect your benefits
Would it affect your benefits if a person was on ssi and the other person was on ssi and ssdi if they were to get married how much would they lose
In reply to Would it affect your benefits by Beth (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
I really could not say, however SSI benefits may change as they are calculated based on household income for married recipients.
OK so, I currently receive
OK so, I currently receive SSI Disability but I'm planning to marry soon. If I'm reading this correctly, his income will have no effect on my benefits, right?
In reply to OK so, I currently receive by Penny (not verified)
Hi Penny,
Hi Penny,
Correct. No effect on your benefits.
-Eric
Well I get my letter today
Well I get my letter today saying I have SSI put there is no moneys because my husband made to much moneys I need help I need to see doctors for my medical bills my husband money can't afford my bills I do not know what to he evens has a lot of medical bills himself .
In reply to Well I get my letter today by T.j (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
You may still be eligible for medical coverage in your state as you are eligible for SSI ( though you don't get any monetary benefits). You may want to contact the office in your state that handles Medicaid.
I get ssdi off my parent that
I get ssdi off my parent that passed in 83. Im what they call a disabled adult child. My boyfriend is on ssi and ssd. Is he considered as a disabled adult child . Someone said if we get married and are both disabled adult child than we both keep our incomes. But my boyfriend dosent no if hes a disabled adult child
In reply to I get ssdi off my parent that by Mj (not verified)
Hi MJ,
Hi MJ,
If your boyfriend is receiving benefits based off of his parents, then he may be considered a disabled adult child. He may want to contact the SSA regarding this as they'd be able to determine if he is one.
If I marry someone from
If I marry someone from another country who just got a greencard, will it effect my disability? I am 28 and autistic and will starve if i lose this money.
In reply to If I marry someone from by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
Immigration status may not be a factor, however if you're receiving benefits based off of your parents work record or if they are income-based benefits, you may have a change in benefits.
I think that marriage should
I think that marriage should not affect someone that gets ssi that's their income because they can't work or work muchvits just like their spouse get money for working
In reply to I think that marriage should by Kim (not verified)
Hi Kim, Thanks for sharing!
Hi Kim,
Thanks for sharing!
I am 62 yrs old and receive
I am 62 yrs old and receive SSD from my own work record. My future spouse also receives SAD from his own work record. Will getting married affect either of our benefits?
In reply to I am 62 yrs old and receive by Rhonda Brown (not verified)
Hi Rhonda,
Hi Rhonda,
It will not affect your SSDI benefits. However I am unsure of your future spouse's SAD benefits.
-Eric
My Mother has my disability
My Mother has my disability check and I'm Married what can i do she has my card for weeks now well not let me have it
In reply to My Mother has my disability by Amber Mata (not verified)
Hi Amber,
Hi Amber,
I am very sorry to hear that. I would recommend speaking to someone at the SSA and leaving a report with them. 1-800-772-1213.
-Eric
I am 62 and disabled. I have
I am 62 and disabled. I have ssdi and ssi. Based on my work history..
My hopefully new husband is 63 and about to retire.
My question is. Will this hurt my checks ? Or can i draw off of him
In reply to I am 62 and disabled. I have by Debi (not verified)
Hi Debi,
Hi Debi,
Once you retire your SSDI will convert to retirement benefits.
-Eric
I was to receive backpay of
I was to receive backpay of 28000 but only recieved 3000. Florida. Married live in same house but bot in a married way. He only provides a separate bed foe me to sleep in. He pays for nothing for me. Can they use his income to adjust the backpay. I pay for medical food and everything
In reply to I was to receive backpay of by Robin (not verified)
Hi Robin,
Hi Robin,
They may do so, you may also want to contact your local SSA office as SSI benefits are paid out in installments, and you may also have had your Established Onset Date changed. You can find a listing of local offices here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
My partner receives SSDI
My partner receives SSDI payments currently. If we get married will these stop? Will the government ever just decide to switch him from SSDI to SSI?
In reply to My partner receives SSDI by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
No they would not, as SSDI payments are based on work record rather than income, and the government would not change SSDI benefits to SSI benefits on a whim.
I am getting $848 a month in
I am getting $848 a month in Massachusetts for Social Security Supplemental.
If I marry someone who makes $1,200 a month.
What will my SSI payment amount be a month? (Actual $ anount)?
In reply to I am getting $848 a month in by Virginia (not verified)
Hi Virginia,
Hi Virginia,
I really could not say as that calculation would be based on your household income and other factors. You can find a listing of local SSA offices here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
I am dating someone. He
I am dating someone. He became disabled as a child. Part of his ssdi is through his father. What happens if we marry? Does he loose his money? He works now but what he can do is limited due being totally blind. I work but I do not make a lot. Does his quality of life go down because he marries me?
In reply to I am dating someone. He by Lynn (not verified)
Hi Lynn,
Hi Lynn,
Yes, he may lose his benefits as disabled adult child benefits are not available after marriage.
I am waiting for my SSDI
I am waiting for my SSDI claim if I get married before I get my claim will I still be able to get it
In reply to I am waiting for my SSDI by Chuck (not verified)
Hi Chuck,
Hi Chuck,
Getting married will not affect your SSDI claim.
-Eric
Hi I have a question my
Hi I have a question my cousin is special needs and is receiving ssi if she gets married to another person who is also receiving ssi who is also special needs. Will the lose their benefits? She really wants to get married but doesn't know what to do.
In reply to Hi I have a question my by Alma (not verified)
Hi Alma,
Hi Alma,
Yes it could affect her SSI benefits. If they are both on SSI the SSA could change their individual benefits to what is called a couples rate.
Best Wishes,
Eric
My fiance' currently
My fiance' currently recieves disability and I'm currently a caregiver for my dad being paid by my father, and would like to get married, would this terminate my fiance's check or will he still be able to get his disability check.
In reply to My fiance' currently by Mary (not verified)
Hi Mary,
Hi Mary,
If he's receiving benefits based off of his work record, they would not be affected by marriage. If he's receiving benefits based off of his parent's work record or his income, marriage would change his eligibility for benefits.
Hi, If I'm collecting
Hi, If I'm collecting ssd on my own income and get married do I also collect from my husband ss..he is still working? thank you I am 55 and he is 58
In reply to Hi, If I'm collecting by Patty (not verified)
Hi Patty,
Hi Patty,
You may be able to but you would not be able to receive both benefits from your income and his, you would only be eligible to receive benefits based on his income if his work record would give you a larger benefit.
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