Will I Lose SSDI If I Get Married?

For individuals receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), understanding the impact of marriage on benefits is a common concern. For most people who receive SSDI based on their own work history, getting married generally does not lead to a loss of their primary benefits. This program is designed as an insurance benefit, reflecting contributions made through payroll taxes during years of employment.

Impact on Your Own SSDI Benefits

When you receive Social Security Disability Insurance based on your own work record, your marital status typically does not affect your monthly benefit amount. SSDI is an earned benefit, much like a private insurance policy, and is not contingent on your current income or assets, nor those of your spouse. Your eligibility and payment amount are determined by your past earnings and the Social Security credits you accumulated. The Social Security Administration (SSA) primarily focuses on your medical condition and your ability to engage in substantial gainful activity when determining your eligibility for SSDI. Therefore, your marriage itself does not change the medical criteria or work history that qualified you for benefits.

Impact on Auxiliary Benefits

While your own SSDI benefits are generally unaffected by marriage, the situation changes for individuals receiving auxiliary benefits. These benefits are paid to eligible family members, such as spouses, divorced spouses, or children, based on the work record of a primary SSDI beneficiary. Marriage can often impact these specific types of benefits.

For example, if you are receiving benefits as a divorced spouse based on your ex-spouse’s work record, remarriage typically terminates these benefits. Similarly, a child receiving benefits on a parent’s disability record will generally lose those benefits upon getting married, unless they marry another individual who is also receiving certain Social Security benefits.

If you are a spouse of a primary SSDI beneficiary, you may be eligible for spousal benefits, which can be up to 50% of the primary beneficiary’s monthly amount. To qualify, you must generally be at least 62 years old, or be caring for the primary beneficiary’s child who is under age 16 or disabled.

SSI vs. SSDI: A Crucial Distinction

Understanding the difference between Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) and Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is important, as marriage impacts these programs very differently. SSDI is an entitlement program, meaning eligibility is based on a person’s work history and the Social Security taxes paid over time. It is not needs-based, which explains why a primary beneficiary’s own SSDI benefits are generally not affected by marriage.

In contrast, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is a needs-based program providing financial assistance to aged, blind, or disabled individuals with limited income and resources. Marriage significantly impacts SSI benefits because the Social Security Administration “deems” a portion of a spouse’s income and resources as available to the SSI recipient. This means that a spouse’s earnings or assets can directly reduce or eliminate the SSI recipient’s benefit.

For instance, in 2024, the maximum federal SSI benefit for an individual is $943 per month, while for an eligible couple, it is $1,415. If a spouse’s countable income or combined couple’s resources exceed the program’s limits ($2,000 for an individual, $3,000 for a couple), the SSI benefit can be reduced or terminated entirely.

Reporting Marriage to the SSA

Beneficiaries of Social Security programs are required to report significant life changes, including marriage, to the Social Security Administration (SSA). This reporting is important because these changes can affect benefit eligibility or payment amounts, particularly for SSI recipients or those receiving auxiliary benefits. Prompt reporting helps ensure that you receive the correct amount of benefits and avoid potential overpayments.

The SSA generally requires that you report a marriage within 10 days after the end of the month in which the event occurred. You can report this change by contacting the SSA directly, either by phone at their national toll-free number, by visiting a local Social Security office, or through your “my Social Security” online account. When reporting, be prepared to provide the date of your marriage and information about your new spouse. Failure to report changes in a timely manner can lead to benefit adjustments, including potential overpayments that you would be required to repay, or even penalties.