Concerns about your Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits should not stop you from getting married. However, it is still important to understand the financial implications that will inevitably come with your marriage. Continue reading to learn whether you can get married and still receive SSDI benefits and how an experienced attorney at The Law Offices of Sheryl Gandel Mazur can help you in determining your SSDI eligibility in New Jersey.

Can I receive SSDI benefits if I get married?

Notably, getting married does not automatically terminate your SSDI benefits. This is because the Social Security Administration (SSA) will determine your eligibility based on your personal income and work history. Since your SSDI benefits are technically funded through your past employment, getting married should not have an impact on your claim. This is regardless of the financial situation of your spouse. So, put simply, the SSA will not consider the income or assets of your spouse when reviewing your SSDI claim.

Can I receive SSI benefits if I get married?

It is important to understand that while marriage may not affect your SSDI benefits, it may affect your SSI benefits. Unlike SSDI, your SSI benefits can be reduced or altogether eliminated depending on how much your spouse earns.

This is because there is an asset limit in place for SSI benefits. That is, an individual must have a resource limit of $2,000 to be an eligible recipient, but a married couple must have a resource limit of $3,000 total. More specifically, in 2022, any income of more than $505 per month from a spouse may impact your SSDI benefits.

So say, for instance, your spouse has a total of $4,000 in their savings account. This may mean that you are no longer eligible to receive SSDI benefits.

Or, say, for instance, that your spouse works and has an income, but still meets the resource limit of $3,000 total. Even so, your benefits may still be reduced due to what federal law refers to as “spousal deeming.” It is also important to note that even if you are not officially married, but live together and hold yourselves out as married in the community, spousal deeming may still apply.

Overall, you must understand the difference between the two programs and how marriage plays a part in them. But more importantly, you must understand that reporting changes to your marital status with the SSA is important, or else there will be consequences.

How do spousal SSDI benefits work?

With that being said, if you are an eligible SSDI recipient, your spouse may be able to receive some benefits of their own. Such benefits are similar to what they would receive if you were retired. Factors that the SSA may consider when determining whether your spouse should receive spousal SSDI benefits include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The age of your spouse.
  • The duration of your and your spouse’s marriage.
  • The amount of SSDI benefits you receive.

For more, contact a skilled New Jersey SSD attorney today.