Marriage can change nearly every aspect of your life. Everything from the home you live in to where you celebrate the holidays may be different after you get married. Most people expect these changes, but few are aware that marriage may also impact your Social Security disability benefits. Here’s what you should know if you plan on tying the knot:
How Marriage Impacts Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Benefits
If you are receiving SSDI benefits for your own disability, getting married will not affect your eligibility. This is true regardless of how much money your new spouse earns or whether or not your new spouse suffers from a disability. But if you are receiving SSDI benefits on someone else’s record, getting married could change things.
If you qualify for benefits on your ex-spouse’s record, you will no longer be eligible for SSDI benefits after getting remarried. The same rule applies for people who qualify for SSDI benefits on their parent’s record. Children are no longer eligible for SSDI benefits on their parent’s record once they marry.
How Marriage Impacts Supplemental Security Income (SSI) Benefits
SSI benefits are only awarded to disabled individuals with limited income and resources at their disposal. To determine eligibility for these benefits, the Social Security Administration (SSA) calculates your monthly income and the value of your financial resources. If your income and resources fall below the SSA’s established limit, you may qualify for benefits. But if they are above the established limits, you are not eligible for this needs-based program.
If you get married, the SSA will consider your new spouse’s finances when determining whether or not you are still eligible for these benefits. The SSA will not include all of your spouse’s income or resources—only a portion will be taken into consideration. But if your spouse makes a lot of money or has extensive financial resources, this could affect your SSI benefits.
Sometimes, the SSA will simply reduce your monthly benefits to account for your new spouse’s income and resources. But in other cases, you may no longer receive any benefits from the SSI program.
Are you suffering from a disability? If so, contact Armstrong & Vaught, P.L.C. at once. Let our experienced attorneys help you obtain the Social Security disability benefits you deserve. Call us at (918) 582-2500 or toll-free at (800) 722-8880 or complete the simple form below for a free consultation with a skilled attorney.