
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.
Does getting married affect financial aid?
Marriage will usually have a positive impact on your financial aid eligibility if you are under 24 years of age and your spouse does not have high income. This is because you can then claim independent status, and your parents' income and assets will not be considered in your financial aid calculations.
Can I get SSI if my husband gets SSDI?
You may no longer qualify for SSI benefits if your spouse gets SSDI and your household exceeds the SSI limit. If your spouse qualifies for SSDI but you lack the necessary work history—but you meet the other program qualifications—it may be possible to get approval for SSI if you meet the income and resources guidelines.
Will getting married affect my student loans?
What happens to student loans when you get married depends on when you took out the loans and where you live. But for all borrowers, getting married can impact what payment plans and tax deductions you’re eligible for, and it can even affect your ability to qualify for credit in the future.

Should a person with a disability get married?
If you are receiving Social Security disability benefits under your own work record (meaning you are the disabled worker), then getting married will not affect your benefit payments. This is the case no matter whether your future spouse works, receives disability benefits, or has no income.
Does my spouse's income affect my Social Security disability benefits?
And the good news is that your spouse's income generally doesn't affect any SSDI benefits you may receive. That's because SSDI is a program to help people who have already paid into the system. This means that your SSDI is based on your prior earnings and not on your spouse's income.
Will my Social Security benefits change if I get married?
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.
How much can I make if my spouse is on disability?
A disabled person on SSDI or applying for SSDI cannot earn more than $1,350 per month by working. However someone who is earning SSDI can have any amount of income from investments, spousal income and any amount of assets.
Can a married couple both be on disability?
If both people in a married couple meet Social Security's definition of disability — each has an illness or injury that largely prevents them from working for at least a year or will likely result in death — both can collect Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI).
What is the marriage penalty for Social Security?
Social Security & You: There is no marriage penalty with social security.
What happens if you don't report marriage to Social Security?
If you fail to report changes in a timely way, or if you intentionally make a false statement, we may stop your SSI, disability, and retirement benefits. We may also impose a sanction against your payments. The first sanction is a loss of payments for six months. Subsequent sanctions are for 12 and 24 months.
How to find out if my Social Security benefits were reduced after marriage?
If you're still not sure whether your marriage could affect your benefits, call Social Security at 800-772-1213 or visit your local Social Security office to talk to a field representative. Or, if you think your benefits were wrongfully terminated or reduced after you got married, contact a Social Security disability attorney or legal aid office near you.
Can I get SSDI if I get married?
Adult Child Benefits. If you are receiving disability benefits under your parent's work record as an adult child, getting married will usually cause your SSDI benefits to stop. But if you marry a person with disabilities who is also receiving Social Security benefits, you may not lose your benefits when you get married.
Can my spouse get SSI if I'm both receiving?
Because of SSI's strict income limits, your new spouse's income may make you ineligible for benefits, or reduce your benefits by the amount of your countable income. If you and your fiancé are both receiving SSI, you're likely to receive less money.
Does getting married lower your disability?
Answer: Whether getting married will stop or lower your disability benefits depends on whether you're collecting SSI disability benefits, Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, adult child benefits, or survivors benefits based on the record of your deceased spouse (or ex-spouse). Let's look at each situation.
Can you join a civil union if you are a domestic partner?
Domestic Partners and Members of a Civil Union. Your disability benefits won't be affected by joining a domestic partnership or civil union if your benefits are Social Security disability insurance benefits, adult child benefits, or survivors benefits.
Does getting married affect SSDI?
SSDI Benefits. If you worked long enough to be insured for Social Security disability insurance benefits under your own work record, getting married will not affect your benefit payments. SSDI does not have income or asset limits.
Does marriage affect SSI?
Marriage itself doesn't affect your eligibility for SSI benefits, but if your new husband or wife has income, Social Security will attribute some of his or her income to you (this is called deeming spousal income ).
How does marriage affect Social Security?
How Marriage Affects Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) SSDI benefits are based on a person’s work history and current work activity. You have to have enough work credits to qualify for SSDI, and to get work credits , you have to have a solid work history during which you paid your Social Security taxes.
How does marriage affect SSI?
In order to qualify, not only must you personally meet certain financial limitations, but your household income must also meet those limitations. You must also meet the SSA’s definition of disability.
Can I get SSI if I get married?
Your SSI benefits are much more susceptible to being reduced or revoked if you get married than your SSDI benefits. Depending on the income level of your spouse, you may exceed the financial limitations for SSI.
How many credits do you need to work to become disabled?
You can earn up to four work credits per year of employment, and you typically need 40 work credits, half of which were earned in the last 10 years leading up to the year you became disabled. You must also meet the SSA’s definition of disability.
What is dependent on what type of benefits you receive?
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.
When can I get SSDI if my ex-husband died?
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.
Can I get SSDI if I get married?
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.
What is dual eligibility for Medicare?
People with dual eligibility usually qualify for help paying Medicare premiums and deductibles through Medicare's Savings Programs, which are ad ministered by state Medicaid agencies. This is sometimes called getting "Medi-Medi" (short for Medicare and Medicaid).
How do I get SSDI?
SSDI benefits are earned by paying into the Social Security system via payroll deductions. In order to be eligible for SSDI benefits, you must have accrued enough "work credits" to be covered. If you receive benefits based on someone else's work record, you may lose your benefits by getting married, depending on your relationship to ...
What age do you lose your Social Security benefits if you are married?
If you are receiving benefits as the widow of a Social Security disability recipient, you will lose your benefit by getting married if you get married before age 60 (or age 50 if you are disabled). Ex-spouse's work record.
How much is Social Security in 2021?
This is because the full SSI payment for an individual is $794 (in 2021), while the rate for a couple who are both receiving SSI is $1,191 (which is less than double the individual payment.) If you'd like help with calculating your potential loss of benefits, contact a representative at your local Social Security field office.
Can I get married and lose my SSI?
If you receive benefits from both programs, getting married, as discussed above, could cause you to lose SSI benefits, but your SSDI benefits would not likely be affected. What might change is your dual eligibility status for Medicare and Medicaid.
When do you lose your surviving spouse's benefits?
If you are receiving surviving divorced spouse benefits, you'll lose these benefits if you get remarried before age 60. If you are a divorced spouse receiving benefits due to a disability on your deceased ex-spouse's work record, you'll lose these benefits if you get remarried before age 50. Parent's work record.
Can I get married to a disabled adult child?
In some circumstances, however, a disabled adult child may be able to marry another disabled adult child without either person losing benefits.
What is the cap on Social Security?
It caps how much a family can receive from Social Security based on a single wage earner’s record. It includes that worker’s retirement or disability payments plus spousal and children’s benefits. Updated July 15, 2020.
Can you get survivor benefits if you are divorced?
And if the pre-60 remarriage ends, you regain eligibility for the survivor benefit. The same goes if you are divorced and collecting survivor benefits on the record of a deceased former wife or husband. However, if you are divorced and receiving spousal benefits on the record ...
Can a widow get survivor benefits if she remarries?
There is no penalty for remarriage past 60 (50 if disabled).
Is there a penalty for remarrying?
There is no penalty for remarriage past 60 (50 if disabled). And if the pre-60 remarriage ends, you regain eligibility for the survivor benefit. The same goes if you are divorced and collecting survivor benefits on the record of a deceased former wife or husband.
Does marriage affect Social Security?
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. However, remarriage can affect your benefits ...
What happens if you get married and you get SSI?
When you’re married, a portion of your spouse’s assets and income are “deemed” yours. This includes work salary, SSDI payments, and other forms of income. If the person you’re marrying makes a modest income, it’s entirely possible that when your spouse’s income is added to yours, this may put you over the SSI eligibility limit. In turn, getting married may reduce the amount of your SSI benefit or possibly cause the payments to stop completely.
How is Social Security Disability determined?
Social Security Disability and Spousal Benefits. If you decide to receive spousal benefits, the amount you get will be determined by factors including your spouse’s full benefit, your work history and when you begin payments. You qualify for spousal benefits if:
How old do you have to be to qualify for spousal benefits?
You qualify for spousal benefits if: You are 62 or older (unless you are caring for a child under 16 or disabled, in which this rule does not apply). You’ve been married for a minimum of one year. Your spouse is currently collecting retirement benefits.
What is the SSI rate for 2020?
This is because the full SSI payment in 2020 for an individual is $783. The rate for a couple receiving SSI is $1,175, which is less than double the individual payment.
How long do you have to be married to receive Social Security?
To receive for survivor benefits, you must: Have been married to the deceased for a minimum of nine months (unless the death was accidental or occurred in the line of duty, in which case there is no minimum time).
Can I lose my SSI if I get married?
However, your SSDI benefits will not likely be affected. However, what might change is your dual eligibility status for Medicaid and Medicare.
Does getting married lower your disability?
Whether getting married will stop or lower your disability benefits depends on whether you’re collecting SSI disability benefits, Social Security disability insurance benefits, adult child benefits, or survivors’ benefits based on the record of your deceased spouse or ex-spouse. Let’s look at each situation.
How does getting married affect SSDI?
How Getting Married Can Affect SSI Benefits. When it comes to obtaining SSI benefits, there is a strict income and asset limit. When you get married, a part of your spouse’s income is counted as yours. This includes many different types of income, including SSDI benefit payments.
How old do you have to be to get Social Security if you are a widow?
Deceased Spouse’s Record — If you receive benefits as the widow on your deceased spouse’s Social Security account, you will lose eligibility if you re-marry before you are 60 years old or 50 years old if you are disabled.
Can you get SSDI if you have a marital status?
That said, your SSDI benefits not be affected by your marital status (unless you are a DAC benefits recipient-see above). However, what might change is your eligibility for Medicare. People with dual eligibility in most cases qualify for Medicare premiums and deductibles subsidies.
When will I get married in 2021?
18 Mar 2021. Getting married is a significant decision in your life. It is not only about making a lifelong commitment to your beloved partner. It is also a decision that can affect your source of income if you are collecting SSDI or SSI benefits.
Is there a system for SSDI in Massachusetts?
There’s a complicated system that dicta tes SSI and SSDI in Massachusetts and Rhode Island, especially for people who receive both benefits. It is crucial to understand all of the requirements so you do not invalidate or decrease your benefits.
Can I get married with my disabled parent?
In some situations, if both you and your partner are a disabled adult child, you can get married without either person losing benefits.
What happens if a disabled spouse is not a countable income?
If the nondisabled spouse makes a good or even fair income, the disabled spouse will likely lose his or her SSI benefits. If the nondisabled spouse earns more than $367 per month in countable income (in 2015), the nondisabled spouse's income will be deemed. The SSA has a very complicated formula for deeming spousal income.
What is deemed income for disabled spouse?
When a disabled person gets married (and lives with his or her new spouse), the problem is that the SSA will count some of the new husband or wife's income as available to the disabled spouse. This is called "deeming income," and the nondisabled spouse's income that counts as available to the disabled spouse is called "deemed income.". ...
How long can an ex spouse receive disability?
(The ex-spouse of a deceased disabled worker who is 60 years old or older, or at least 50 years old and disabled, can receive benefits until death unless he or she remarries.) If the surviving divorced spouse remarries after age 60 (or after age 50 if disabled), the SSA will ignore the marriage.
What is a SSD?
Some types of Social Security Disability (SSD) are for unmarried family members of the disabled person (so marriage will render the person ineligible for benefits), while other types are for married or unmarried people, but have income limits.
What happens when both spouses are disabled?
When both spouses are disabled, they must both meet the financial eligibility requirements for a couple. Their income is counted together, without using the deeming formula. If they make under the required amount, they would get the couples rate for SSI ($1,100 in 2015).
When does the SSA ignore divorce?
If the surviving divorced spouse remarries after age 60 (or after age 50 if disabled), the SSA will ignore the marriage. For more information on SSDI benefits for ex-spouses, see our article on getting disability as the divorced spouse of a disabled person.
How old do you have to be to get disability?
Here are the specifics: The unmarried child or stepchild of a disabled worker can receive benefits until age 18, or age 19 if a full-time high-school student, or until getting married, whichever occurs earlier. The unmarried disabled adult child of a disabled worker can receive benefits (assuming his or her disability occurred before age 22) ...
Is there an eligible couple?
There is an eligible couple (rather than two eligible individuals); The rules for deeming income and resources apply if a spouse is not eligible (see � 2167 ); or. An individual under age 22 is a child who qualifies for special income exclusions.
Is a spouse living with you on SSI?
The spouse you were living with at the beginning of a month is your spouse for SSI purposes, regardless of changes later in the month. For example, a “holding-out” spouse with whom you are living takes precedence over a legally married spouse from whom you are separated. Last Revised: Aug. 25, 2016.
