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
My question is i get death
My question is i get death benifits cause my husband passed. If i get remarried will my benifits go to my child that is 13?
In reply to My question is i get death by Angela (not verified)
Hi Angela,
Hi Angela,
You may not qualify for survivor's benefits after remarriage. It may be a good idea to contact the SSA regarding this, you can reach out to them at 1-800-772-1213.
Well I do have both SSI and a
Well I do have both SSI and a disability check. So my question is will both of my checks get closed down or cut off?
In reply to Well I do have both SSI and a by Sierra (not verified)
Hi Sierra,
Hi Sierra,
Some circumstances one can get SSI and SSDI benefits. If you get married your SSI benefits could be affected though. Your SSDI will not.
-Eric
So if you do receive SSI or
So if you do receive SSI or SSID that means you can't get married at all please explain more
In reply to So if you do receive SSI or by Jimmy Petroski (not verified)
HI Jimmy,
HI Jimmy,
For SSI recipients, their benefits may change as SSI eligibility is calculated differently for married couples rather than single people.
For SSDI, if you're receiving it on your own work record, your benefits would not change after marriage. If you're receiving it based on your parent's work record as a disabled adult child, marriage may change your benefits as well.
If i married someone one on
If i married someone one on SSDI and I m not employed and not old enough for SSI will it increase his SSDI ?
In reply to If i married someone one on by Pluma Mccarty (not verified)
Hi Pluma,
Hi Pluma,
SSDI benefits based on a person's work record would not change due to marriage.
Receive ssi disability!! My
Receive ssi disability!! My husband Works!! Should our son receive money? And are they going to take money from me since he makes pretty OK money!!! Really not sure??? Help
In reply to Receive ssi disability!! My by Nvargas (not verified)
HI there,
HI there,
If you're receiving disability benefits based off of your work history rather than your income level, your child may be eligible for benefits based off of your account.
What if one person receives
What if one person receives SSI and the other receives SSDI can the two get married without it affecting either party
In reply to What if one person receives by Christy gilmer (not verified)
Hi Christy,
Hi Christy,
SSI benefits are based on income, so marriage would affect eligibility for benefits as SSI benefits are calculated based off of household income for married SSI recipients.
I get ssd, i get a check from
I get ssd, i get a check from my deceased husbands work record and one from mine. I got married 10 years ago am I entitled to anything from my currant husband?
In reply to I get ssd, i get a check from by Fay (not verified)
Hi Fay,
Hi Fay,
I would recommend speaking to someone from the SSA regarding your situation.
-Eric
I am on SSDI right now ,i am
I am on SSDI right now ,i am 50 .if i get married my SSDI income will not effect me and other person as well ?
In reply to I am on SSDI right now ,i am by Khoi (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Nope, it's won't be affected.
-Eric
my wife makes 15.00 an our so
my wife makes 15.00 an our so my award letter states she makes tomuch money so i get nothing . if i move out can i get benefits, i was approved and everything, how about a divorce can i get benefits then?
In reply to my wife makes 15.00 an our so by dale (not verified)
Hi Dale,
Hi Dale,
I really could not recommend a course of action as misrepresenting your relationship to your wife may be considered fraud, especially if she is helping with housing.
will i lose my SSI benifits
will i lose my SSI benifits if i get married,
my future husband has SSI also
will i or he lose them or they go up
In reply to will i lose my SSI benifits by Harris (not verified)
Hi Harris,
Hi Harris,
Your benefits may change as SSI benefits are calculated based off of household income for married people.
I am a disabled adult child
I am a disabled adult child with SSDI, and my SO has partial VA disability, tho he does work. He JUST started working since medically discharging from the army. I can't find anything about what would happen if we marry. Anyone know?
In reply to I am a disabled adult child by Alice (not verified)
Hi Alice,
Hi Alice,
If you get married your benefits will not be affected. I am not sure how marriage will affect your significant other's VA disability though.
-Eric
Im.wondering if there way I
Im.wondering if there way I can change my last name like I'd I don't like my last name an still get ssi I won't be mailed just chageing my last name
In reply to Im.wondering if there way I by Anonymous (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
Changing your name won't affect your benefits, however you should notify the SSA immediately if you plan to do so.
-Eric
So what if a woman is
So what if a woman is receiving social security benefits from former deceased spouse; but resides with a new partner whom she filed married tax return with this person. No marriage certificate between them in order to retain social security benefits from the prior deceased spouse?
In reply to So what if a woman is by Anonymous (not verified)
Hello,
Hello,
In certain cases spouses can receive survivor's benefits if their significant other passes away.
-Eric
If me my boyfriend's on
If me my boyfriend's on SSI he is I'm on both SSI an ssdi how much would we loose
In reply to If me my boyfriend's on by Darlene (not verified)
Hi Darlene,
Hi Darlene,
I really could not say as that would depend on many factors. You may want to reach out to your local SSA office regarding this, you can find a listing here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
So I married in 2004, then
So I married in 2004, then div in 2009, to first hubby. then I married a diff man in 2010, but was only married to him less than a year, and He would not let me file taxes as married or married file seperate as he was controlling and abusive. Will SS disability come back on me for not filing taxes correctly?
In reply to So I married in 2004, then by Marlene (not verified)
Hi Marlene,
Hi Marlene,
Your taxes may not affect your application as Social Security is paid through payroll taxes, but you may want to contact the IRS regarding your tax situation.
Hiya i have be with my best
Hiya i have be with my best friend for ten years. I get a ssi check and he gets a check on the third of the month. We want to get married. But I know they will take so much out of my check each month. But what about his check.
In reply to Hiya i have be with my best by kelly (not verified)
Hi Kelly,
Hi Kelly,
I really couldn't say, you may want to contact your local SSA office regarding this as they could give you detailed information about your case and what would happen if you marry.
I am on disability and want
I am on disability and want to marry someone on disability how will that affect our benefits
In reply to I am on disability and want by Anonymous (not verified)
Hi there,
Hi there,
That would depend on what disability benefits you are receiving; you may want to contact your local SSA office about this. We have a listing of local offices here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
I'm disabled and receive
I'm disabled and receive SSDI from my deceased husbands record. We were married 30 yrs. Im 57 years old. Would I be able to remarry without losing my disability.
In reply to I'm disabled and receive by Lee (not verified)
Hi Lee,
Hi Lee,
You may be able to do so, however it's a good idea to contact the SSA regarding this, you can find more information by contacting the SSA at 1-800-772-1213.
If I get married and am on
If I get married and am on SSI and SSDI because of parent will I lose the SSDI and keep SSI. Also if my future husband doesn't work but goes to school part time like I do will I lose SSI?
In reply to If I get married and am on by MJ (not verified)
Hi MJ,
Hi MJ,
You won't lose your SSDI if you get married. However your SSI may be reduced or lost all together.
-Eric
I am currently claiming off
I am currently claiming off of my recently deceased fathers ssi. I an supposed to be getting married next month my fiancé is on ssi also from his work would mine be cut off because honestly we can't afford to have my check taken away it would crush us financially
In reply to I am currently claiming off by Mashell (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
Your SSI may be changed from an individual rate to a couples' rate if you get married.
-Eric
I get SSI and I want to get
I get SSI and I want to get marry he wks at a pizza shop will they take me off of ssi
In reply to I get SSI and I want to get by jackie (not verified)
HI Jackie,
HI Jackie,
That would depend on his income level, you may want to speak with your local SSA office regarding this as they may be able to help you further with this. You can find a listing here:
http://www.disability-benefits-help.org/content/social-security-disabil…
I'm currently under my
I'm currently under my father's records. My boyfriend also receives SSDI and just started working a full-time this month. He's going to earn over SSDI's limit amount. He will call to close his benefits next month. He has already used up his 9 months trail. I was told that if we are receiving benefits, and it wouldn't affect my benefits and if he's going to get a full-time and stopped receiving benefits, it won't affect my benefits. I'm wondering If we were getting married this month, would it affect my benefits? Also, I receive my children's benefits under their father's records. Would it also affect my benefits, too?
Thank you!
In reply to I'm currently under my by Rose (not verified)
Hi Rose,
Hi Rose,
If you are on SSDI then your benefits will not be affected.
-Eric
Hi !
Hi !
I am certainly been disabled since 1996. I used to be SSI under my own work history. I however now receving SSDI under my Father's Retirement .
I have two questions ?
If my father passes on . Not that I want anything to happen to him because I love him very much . Far as the future. What will happen to me if he dies pass away far as my SSDi and how will it affected me ?
If I marry and still received the same SSDI , How will it changed both payment and insurance ?
Thank You
In reply to Hi ! by Bilcris (not verified)
Hi There,
Hi There,
You still may receive survivor's benefits from your father's SSDI when he passes away.
If you get married, that won't affect your SSDI. I am unsure of your insurance however. I would recommend speaking to a representative at your insurance provider regarding that.
-Eric
If I marry someone and that
If I marry someone and that person doesn't have a job do I lose my benefits
In reply to If I marry someone and that by David (not verified)
Hi David,
Hi David,
If you are on SSDI benefits then you won't, but if you are on SSI benefits then it could be affected.
-Eric
My wife and I both collected
My wife and I both collected benifits she disability and i both disability and retirement i turned 65 08/01/17 but took early retirement...We can not live on the reduced income we recieve as a married couple .whats the fastest ezest way to be concidered individuals.
In reply to My wife and I both collected by Doug Brass (not verified)
Hi Doug,
Hi Doug,
If your benefits are based on your work record, then you would both be considered as receiving individual benefits.
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