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does getting married affect social security benefits

by Onie Hyatt Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago

Being married can have a major impact on what you receive in Supplemental Security Income (SSI), a Social Security-administered benefit for low-income older and disabled people, in two important ways:

  • If you and your spouse both qualify for SSI, you are subject to a maximum couple’s benefit, which is less than the sum...
  • If you are applying for or receiving SSI and your...

Marriage has no impact on your Social Security retirement benefit, which is based on your work record and earnings history. You and your spouse, assuming he or she also qualifies for retirement benefits, each collect your own separate benefits, and the amounts do not limit or otherwise affect each other.Jul 15, 2020

Full Answer

How getting married can mess up your social security?

Ten Life Events that Can Mess Up Your Disability Case

  • Pause. Before reading the next section you should know… Some rules below apply to SSI and some apply to SSDI.
  • SSDI only. Your children may be eligible for dependent benefits. ...
  • SSI only. If you get married, it’s a good idea to learn more about how this will impact your SSI. ...

How will getting married affect my SSD benefits?

To summarize, you have a few choices on how to continue receiving benefits:

  • You can elect to keep receiving your own benefits and your spouse may do the same;
  • You can terminate your own benefits in favor of spousal benefits; or
  • Your spouse can terminate their benefits and receive spousal benefits under you.

How much can a married couple get from Social Security?

You may need to produce these documents when you apply

  • Your Social Security card.
  • An original birth certificate or other proof of your birth.
  • A copy of your W-2 form or self-employment tax return for the previous year.
  • Your marriage certificate.
  • If you weren't born in the United States, proof of U.S. citizenship or lawful alien status.

What happens when two people on social security get married?

  • Married With Children
  • Married without Qualifying Children
  • Single (Head of Household) with Children
  • Single without Qualifying Children

What is the Social Security marriage penalty?

A married couple (eligible individual and eligible or ineligible spouse) is entitled to only one $20 exclusion per month regardless of whether one or both members have income.

Do I need to notify Social Security when I get married?

For many people, a wedding often means a name change is in order. If you are legally changing your name, you need to apply for a replacement Social Security card reflecting your new name. If you're working, also tell your employer.

How much SSI will I lose if I get married?

The SSI income limit (and monthly benefit rate) for a couple is $1,175 in 2020. So after subtracting $480, the $695 remainder is what your new monthly benefit would be. This is less than the $783 SSI benefit that you may have been receiving ($783 is the standard federal benefit amount for an individual in 2020).

Does Social Security penalize married couples?

Not when it comes to each spouse's own benefit. Both can receive retirement payments based on their respective earnings records and the age when they claimed benefits. One payment does not offset or affect the other.

Will I lose my benefits if I get married?

Generally, your benefits end if you remarry. Benefits end if you marry. For more information, call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday; or contact your local Social Security office.

Will I lose my Social Security benefits if I remarry?

Will remarrying reduce my Social Security benefits? If we're talking about your retirement benefit, the answer is no. Social Security has no marriage penalty.

How much can my spouse make before it affects my SSI?

A couple can generally have about $2,400 in earned monthly income before their SSI check will disappear. And disabled students under 22 can have about $7,600 of their annual incomes deemed not countable.

What is the best Social Security strategy for married couples?

3 Social Security Strategies for Married Couples Retiring EarlyHave the higher earner claim Social Security early. ... Have the lower earner claim Social Security early. ... Delay Social Security jointly and live on savings or other income sources.

What happens to my SSI if I marry?

Supplemental Security Income (SSI) If you marry, your spouse's income and resources may change your SSI benefit; or. If you and your spouse both get SSI, your benefit amount will change from an individual rate to a couple’s rate. Benefits for a widow, divorced widow, widower or divorced widower.

How do I contact Social Security for my child?

Benefits for a child under age 18 or student ages 18 or 19. Benefits end if you marry. For more information, call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) , 8:00 am – 7:00 pm, Monday through Friday; or contact your local Social Security office. Keywords: spousal kid.

When do divorced spouses' benefits end?

If you receive divorced spouse’s benefits — Generally, your benefits end if you remarry. Check out if you are divorced for more information. Benefits for a child under age 18 or student ages 18 or 19 — Benefits end if you marry. You can find more information in our page Benefits for Children.

Can my spouse's SSI change?

If you receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits — If you marry, your spouse’s income and resources may change your SSI benefit. If you and your spouse both get SSI, your benefit amount will change from an individual rate to a couple’s rate.

What is spousal benefit?

The spousal benefit is typically one-half of the spouse's retirement benefit, adjusted for the age at which the spouse applies. In general, when you file for spousal benefits, you'll be treated as also having simultaneously claimed your own retirement benefits.

How long do you have to be divorced to get spousal benefits?

If not, then you have to have been divorced for at least two years before claiming your spousal benefits. There's one big potential pitfall with ex-spousal benefits: They go away if you get remarried. Instead, you'll have to claim spousal benefits based on your new spouse's work history.

How long do you have to be married to receive survivor benefits?

Typically, you have to have been married for at least nine months prior to the date of death in order for survivor benefits to be available.

Do divorced spouses get survivors benefits?

Divorced spouses are also entitled to survivor benefits, again with the 10-year marriage-length requirement in place. With survivor benefits, the rules governing remarriage are somewhat more complicated.

Who is Dan Caplinger?

Author Bio. Dan Caplinger has been a contract writer for the Motley Fool since 2006. As the Fool's Director of Investment Planning, Dan oversees much of the personal-finance and investment-planning content published daily on Fool.com.

Does getting married affect Social Security?

However, the spousal benefits that it offers also play a key role in how much you can get from the program, and getting married can therefore dramatically change your Social Security benefits. Below, we'll look at several ways in which getting married can affect what you get from Social Security.

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