How Marriage Affects Your Social Security Disability Benefits

Are you single and receiving disability benefits?

If yes, you probably worry if the benefits would stop or decrease once you get married.

It’s likely to happen because some disability benefits are only for unmarried beneficiaries, and you will lose them once you get married.

Also, other disability insurance types follow certain income limits. The combined income of a married couple may reach the limit and reduce the amount you receive.

So, read this article and understand how marriage will affect your particular disability insurance.

Understanding the Effects of Marriage on Your Disability Insurance

You can get two primary disability insurance types from the Social Security Administration (SSA). And marriage affects differently to each of these types.

1. Social Security Disability Insurance

You may claim Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) if you fulfill the SSA’s disability definitions and have earned enough work credits. That’s regardless if you were unmarried or married while applying for benefits.

Moreover, the benefits will not stop or decrease if you marry while receiving SSDI.

The problem is when you have a dependant that receives the benefits on your work records. For example, your child depends on your income, so they should receive benefits if you become disabled and can’t work full-time.

In most cases, SSDI only covers unmarried dependents of disabled workers. Thus, consider these situations if you have SSDI dependants:

• Benefits for Divorced Spouse and Surviving Spouse Dependants

A divorced spouse may generally receive benefits based on your work records until their death unless they remarry.

However, a surviving spouse continues receiving the benefits until death if they only remarry after 60 years old (50 if they’re disabled). This rule also applies to a surviving divorced spouse.

• Benefits for Child Dependants

A child dependant will generally stop receiving the SSDI benefits upon marriage, and this applies to biological children, adopted children, and stepchildren.

However, the SSA may consider certain cases where a disabled child marries another disabled person, where both continue to receive their benefits.

2. Supplemental Security Insurance

You are eligible for Supplemental Security Insurance (SSI) if you have a disability but haven’t accumulated enough work credits. SSA will only require you to satisfy their disability definitions, and you should be unable to earn above a certain income amount.

Now, marriage may complicate SSI benefits, depending on whether you are both disabled or if only one of you is disabled.

• SSI, if Both of You and Your Spouse are Disabled

The SSA will adjust your and your spouse’s benefits if both qualify for SSI.

Individually, you should receive $841 maximum each month, according to the 2022 SSA rates. However, you may only receive $1,261 in total as a couple.

• SSI if Only One of You is Disabled

The SSA may consider your spouse’s income when calculating your SSI benefits if your spouse isn’t disabled. It’s because the SSA assumes your spouse also supports your needs.

This process is known as deeming your spouse’s income.

The SSA will deduct other household expenses from your spouse’s income when calculating your SSI. In 2022, your spouse’s countable income should not exceed $420 to keep your SSI intact. The SSA may reduce or cancel your disability benefits if your spouse’s income exceeds the indicated amount.

Hire a Social Security Benefits Lawyer in Burbank to Learn More about Disability Benefits

Some disability benefits can become complicated to think about when you plan to marry. Thus, understand how marriage could affect your disability insurance so that you will be mentally prepared if you ever lose them.

Consulting a Burbank Social Security benefits attorney will explain the complexities of disability benefits. They may also help you keep your disability insurance after marrying.