What to Know Before You Get Married While on Disability

Depending on the type of disability benefits you receive, there may be consequences for getting married. It is important to consider any potential changes to your benefits before entering into a marriage. You should speak with a lawyer to discuss your individual situation.

What is Disability?

Disability is an umbrella term that encompasses physical, mental, and intellectual impairments. It affects people’s capacity to engage in everyday activities such as walking, communicating, and even thinking. Generally speaking, a disability is experienced when a person’s body functions differently than that of the majority. Some disabilities are easily visible while others are not.

The Social Security Administration (SSA) defines disability as “the inability to engage in any substantial gainful activity by reason of any medically determinable physical or mental impairment which can be expected to result in death or which has lasted or can be expected to last for a continuous period of not less than 12 months.” Generally, this translates to severe limitations caused by something medical, whether it be mental or physical.

Arguments for disability typically surround questions about how societies can better accommodate individuals with disabilities. This includes efforts like providing resources such as wheelchairs, special education teachers and assistants, job placement programs for those with intellectual disabilities, and access to medical care and treatments. Ultimately, this reveals that disability does not limit an individual from achieving their goals, but merely requires them to take a different path to reach those goals.

On the other hand, some may argue against recognizing disability as they suggest disability has become institutionalized in society and is used as a way to discriminate against some individuals. They may also argue that disability has become a label used without consideration of individual abilities or contributions that often come with being disabled. They further suggest that by viewing certain individuals as disabled rather than people first, it places them at a disadvantage compared to their able-bodied counterparts who have the same capabilities yet do not face societal stigma or receive extra resources due to their disabilities.

No matter what perspective one takes on disabilities and related debates surrounding its definition and social implications, one thing remains true: The experiences of someone with a disability are far from universal, and should never be assumed as such; every individual’s experience is unique, just like anyone else’s.

With these points in mind about what constitutes disability, the following section will discuss in further detail how exactly this impacts those who get married while on disability benefits.

What Does Disability Affect?

When it comes to getting married, disability is an important factor to consider. Getting married while on disability will affect multiple aspects of the relationship and could have financial repercussions, so it’s important to weigh all the options before making a commitment. Here’s a closer look at what disability affects when it comes to marriage.

Financial Position: One of the primary considerations when getting married while on disability is how it will affect your financial position. Disability payments are typically lower than incomes from full-time employment, so combining finances with a partner who brings in a larger income might seem appealing. However, tying finances together can also create issues with eligibility for benefits like Social Security or Medicaid. Moreover, if one spouse makes significantly more money than the other, this could potentially lead to feelings of disparity or resentment within the relationship.

Eligibility For Benefits: Another important factor to consider is how marriage may affect eligibility for benefits. Disability income has been used as a form of support for those unable to work due to illness or injury; being married could disqualify you from certain benefits and programs that would otherwise help cover living expenses. Additionally, most states will not recognize marriages between partners if one is receiving state aid—meaning that if you are married and one partner receives state aid, both could be denied coverage.

Living Arrangements: Lastly, marriage can also bring up issues related to living arrangements. If one spouse is able-bodied and working outside the home while the other is living on disability income, this can cause tension if accommodations aren’t made for physical needs that are common with certain disabilities. It’s important for partners to discuss these issues rationally so that everyone feels secure in their home and comfortable with their respective roles in the relationship.

These are just some of the possible ways that getting married while on disability can affect a couple’s lives—it’s important for couples who find themselves in this situation to do their research in order to make sure they understand all of the potential impacts that getting married may have on them. With this knowledge they can make an informed decision about whether marriage is right for them or if they should explore other options. Now let’s take a closer look at how marriage will change once it occurs by looking at “Changes After Getting Married”.

Changes After Getting Married

Getting married can bring life-changing challenges both financially and lifestyle-wise that disabled individuals must consider before taking the plunge. It is important to go into marriage with full knowledge of how a new union will affect disability benefits, income and taxes.

Marriage often brings additional financial responsibilities to a household and in rare cases, if spouses are earning too much income together, it could mean losing access to certain disability benefits. Also, unlike when one partner is not on disability, the other spouse’s income could affect how much a disabled individual receives through certain programs like Supplemental Security Income (SSI). Therefore, married couples should be conscious of all sources of income in order to avoid any setbacks or confusion when it comes time to filing taxes. Furthermore, depending on the state, it may be wise for the non-disabled partner to consult a lawyer for advice about estate planning in case of death or divorce proceedings.

It is also important for disabled persons and their partners to prepare for changes in their everyday lifestyle. For example, when one spouse is receiving disability benefits due to health issues, the caretaker and emotional support partner role may fall on the other “non-disabled” partner throughout the course of their relationship. It is important to keep an open line of communication between both partners and ask medical professionals questions regarding longer-term issues related to how disabilities might evolve over time. In addition, it’s necessary for couples to discuss who will shoulder parental responsibilities such as having children and/or taking care of joint external commitments–including things like paying bills or managing savings accounts.

Overall, getting married can bring about significant changes for both partners but especially those with disabilities and create financial or lifestyle obligations unfamiliar to them prior to entering into the marriage. Next up we’ll look at “What Changes Legally?”.

What Changes Legally?

Getting married can be a major milestone in life, but when one or both members of the marriage are on disability, there are many legal changes to be aware of. It is important to thoroughly understand these changes before entering into a marriage so that you can make an informed decision.

One potential legal change while on disability is that disabled persons may lose their qualification for certain government programs and benefits if they get married. For example, a single person on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) may not qualify for benefits if they marry someone with other forms of income as this may exceed the threshold for SSDI eligibility. Additionally, Medicaid could potentially reduce or eliminate benefits upon marriage if the spouse’s income affects household finances.

Additional legal changes to consider are those related to taxes and filing status. For example, in most cases, when two people marry, one of them will usually need to switch from filing as an individual taxpayer to jointly filed married status. Furthermore, for tax credits such as the Earned Income Credit (EITC), eligibility becomes much more limited since only individuals who remain single qualify once their combined incomes reach certain thresholds.

On the other hand, there can be significant advantages to getting married while on disability as well. Legal marriage allows disabled couples to benefit from joint ownership of property and an easier division of assets should the marriage end in divorce. Married couples can also benefit from joint health insurance coverage and other government protections such as rights to survivors’ benefits after a death occurs and Social Security reduced retirement age for surviving spouses.

It is important to weigh all potential legal implications before deciding whether or not to get married while on disability. The next section will discuss what changes occur in terms of Social Security benefits when getting married while on disability.

• According to the Social Security rules, if a person marries while collecting SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) benefits, their benefits generally don’t stop.
• However, a disabled individual’s income may be affected by marriage and this could mean they no longer meet the eligibility requirements for SSDI.
• The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services states that when a person with SSDI gets married, it may affect their access to Medicaid or other non-SSDI governed public benefits.

Impact on Social Security Benefits

When it comes to getting married while on disability, understanding the potential impact on your Social Security benefits is important. Depending on your individual circumstances, marriage can cause increased or decreased benefits. In some cases, the disabled individual may be able to obtain additional support after marrying someone who also receives disability benefits.

In general, an individual cannot receive both his or her own disability benefit and a spousal benefit from the same Social Security record at the same time. For example, if a disabled person marries an individual receiving their own Social Security income, the disabled spouse’s eligibility for any extra benefits is reduced. So, in these scenarios there will likely be no monetary gain for either partner by virtue of marriage.

On the other hand, in situations where one person receives disability benefits and their spouse does not, they may be eligible for an increased Social Security spousal benefit from their spouses record provided they meet certain conditions won by the Social Security Administration (SSA). The amount of spousal benefit gained will depend on different factors including both spouses’ employment history before disability and when they began receiving disability benefits. It is important to consult with the SSA or a financial advisor to determine if marriage would result in an increase in total benefits paid.

Married couples should also bear in mind that Social Security benefits are calculated using both spouses’ combined work history. If one partner has a weak work history then their spousal benefit could be less than half of their partner’s disabled spouse’s benefit amount. Therefore, married couples should do due diligence and consider how any potential changes to their individual Social Security payments might impact them over time.

It’s imperative to weigh the pros and cons that come along with potentially changing your Social Security situation when you get married while on SSDI. As there is much potential variability in this area, it is wise to ensure you’ve done your research before taking any steps forward or backward with regard to marriage while on SSDI.

Next we will look closely at the financial impact of getting married while on disability to fully understand all of the implications associated with this decision.

Financial Impact of Disability While Married

For those who are disabled and considering marriage, understanding the financial impact is incredibly important. There are a few key points to consider when it comes to finances related to disability when you’re married.

The first point is that marriage could potentially affect your eligibility for government programs such as Supplemental Security Income (SSI) or Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). This happens because your spouse’s income could put you over the limits set by those programs. So it is worth exploring what options you would have if you were to get married in order to ensure that you would continue to receive needed benefits.

Another factor to consider is how much income your spouse will be contributing to your household. Depending on the income, this could also affect eligibility for certain benefits and might mean it’s more beneficial financially for the disabled partner to remain unmarried or unmarried with an agreement in place that ensures both partners’ financial security. That being said, there are also potential tax benefits for those who are married which can help increase the household’s total income.

Finally, it’s important to consider what kind of financial planning needs to be done around disabilities and long term care costs such as health insurance coverage and durable medical equipment, which could require additional money from either partner or from outside sources depending on the situation.

Marriage can have major financial impacts on a person living with a disability and it’s essential for couples to explore these potential changes, understand their rights under the law, and know what resources are available before tying the knot. As this is an important decision that involves careful consideration on various facets of life – both emotionally and financially, understand all resources available and plan accordingly.

This brings us to our next section: Financial Support From Spouse- how should couples ensure both partners are adequately taken care of while living with a disability?

Financial Support from Spouse

A very important factor to consider when it comes to marriage on disability is financial support. While being married can not in any way increase one’s monthly disability payments, if the higher-earning spouse has a sizeable income, it can be beneficial to married couples. The non-disabled spouse’s earnings may help to make ends meet and fill in gaps of spending that those on disability often have. Additionally, if the disabled spouse requires any necessary medical treatments or therapies, this income could prove invaluable.

However, some planners may advise against this – citing potential disadvantages like crowding out other crucial State and Federal programs like Medicaid or SSI benefits which may otherwise be available after marriage. While there is no “one size fits all” answer to this question and many factors should be taken into account, including a thorough consideration of both the advantages and disadvantages – couples considering marriage on disability need to weigh out the pros and cons on what makes sense for them and their specific financial situation.

The next section will discuss how marriage may affect Medicare & Medicaid eligibility for those who are disabled.

Medicare & Medicaid

When considering marriage while on disability, it is important to be aware of the implications that disability-related benefits may have. While a marriage can provide more stability and support, it can also affect eligibility for some disability-related benefits like Medicare or Medicaid.

Medicare is a health insurance program primarily for those age 65 and older, however, if you are under 65 and have a qualifying disability, you may be eligible for certain benefits by enrolling in the Medicare program. Those who have been receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits from the Social Security Administration (SSA) for at least two years are usually automatically enrolled in Medicare Part A, which covers hospital services and skilled nursing care. It is important to note that once married, individuals must notify SSA. This change could lead to a loss of SSI/Medicare coverage due to an increase in combined resources and income. If this happens, the spouse may be able to remain on Medicare under their own name due to their impairment-related work expenses — but it’s important to inform SSA of any changes as soon as possible to ensure coverage doesn’t lapse.

Medicaid is a state-funded health insurance program which offers medical coverage for individuals with low income or limited resources. Applying for Medicaid when one partner has a disability can be complex, because it considers the combined resources of both spouses — meaning that the marital income and assets of both partners must be taken into account when determining eligibility. The standard rule is that if your combined countable resources are over $2,000 (for individuals) or $3,000 (for married couples), then you won’t qualify for Medicaid benefits. However, some states will allow a disabled person to claim some protection from countable resources due to their medical needs — although this varies significantly on a case-by-case basis.

Given the complexities surrounding Medicare and Medicaid eligibility when considering marriage while on disability, it is important to carefully consider your options and consult with a qualified professional before making any big decisions.

The next section discusses requirements to receive coverage related to getting married while on disability.

Requirements to Receive Coverage

The requirements to receive coverage for individuals on disability can be complicated for those who are considering marriage. It is important to be aware of the potential changes to an individual’s disability benefits and coverage should they choose to get married. Depending on a person’s level of disability, they could face less or more coverage if they change their marital status.

For example, those receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) must meet stringent financial criteria and live alone in order to qualify as eligible disabled. If someone marries someone who already has an income, then their SSI payments may decrease significantly or completely stop due to the income increase. On the other hand, some couples can benefit from a higher level of coverage if one partner has a lower income than the partner on disability and is able to supplement his/her household incomes.

Furthermore, for those who are married and apply for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), it is important to be aware that sponsors such as spouses, ex-spouses, adult children, parents or sometimes stepparents may also be eligible to receive certain types of benefits when the disabled person draws SSDI. Whether or not these extra types of benefits are available vary depending on individual circumstances including whether or not an applicant was previously married.

It is always best to contact your local Social Security Office prior to tying the knot in order to become informed about your current disability benefits coverage so that you can plan for any adjustments that might happen upon getting married.

When it comes to taxes, how will getting married affect them? That’s something you need to know next.

How Will Getting Married Affect Taxes?

Getting married can drastically change how you file your taxes. Depending on if one or both parties are on disability, there are pros and cons of filing jointly or separately.

Filing jointly might be beneficial for married couples if one party is on disability and the other party is employed. They may be able to get a larger tax refund. Additionally, having their incomes together may help with getting access to credits, deductions and benefits that wouldn’t have been available to them if they were filing separately.

On the other hand, filing separately might reduce their taxable income and result in less of a tax burden each year. This could be particularly useful for couples in which one person has very low earnings due to disability payments. However, this can also impact the number of credits and deductions they’re able to receive as well as their eligibility for certain government benefits like housing vouchers or retirement plans.

There are many factors to consider when beginning your married life while on disability and deciding how you want to file your taxes should be one of them. It’s important to look at all the options carefully in order to make an informed decision that is best for you and your partner.

When considering the future of married life while on disability, it’s important to also look into how getting married will affect taxes in order to decide which filing option is best for you and your partner. In the next section we’ll discuss different ways couples on disability can prepare for their financial future together.

The Future of Married Life with Disability

When considering getting married while on disability, the individual must consider their future. Marriage can have a significant impact on the amount of benefits received and can affect the overall quality of life for both partners.

The primary difficulty for individuals with disabilities when it comes to marriage is financial stability. It is sometimes difficult for couples to create a budget that meets their needs and still allows for an adequate income for daily living expenses. It is important to consider whether one spouse’s disability income will be enough to cover all of the couple’s shared expenses. Couple may also have concerns over applying for or maintaining disability benefits or any additional financial help they may receive while in a married partnership.

Individuals with disabilities face unique obstacles in marriage such as long-term planning and vulnerability to abuse. When contemplating marriage, individuals should be aware of potential risks such as weakened Social Security benefit payments, reduction in Medicaid coverage, and lack of estate planning items such as wills and powers of attorney. It’s important couples understand the full consequences of marriage before making commitments that could hurt their legal rights and evade financially beneficial resources they previously had access to while single.

On the other hand, there are several benefits when two people with disabilities get married. The extra Social Security support can become invaluable, giving couples a much-needed financial boost. Also, there is increased emotional security from having someone in their lives who understands them and is willing to help provide support during difficult times. The companionship provided by marriage for disabled individuals may also lead to more positive social interactions and better overall mental health.

It’s important for disabled individuals considering marriage to research programs and services from both federal, state and local sources so they can make an informed decision about what kind of marriage best fits their needs. Additionally, couples should consult professionals such as attorneys, mental healthcare workers and social workers who understand the process behind obtaining and keeping necessary benefits when married with a disability.

Frequently Asked Questions and Their Answers

Are there any risks to continuing to receive disability benefits after getting married?

Yes, there are risks to continuing to receive disability benefits after getting married. It is important to assess your financial situation before deciding whether or not you should get married while on disability. When you are collecting benefits based on your own income, a large amount of that money needs to remain in your accounts and cannot be transferred anywhere else. So if you marry someone whose income is too high, it could lead to a decrease in the amount of disability benefits you currently receive. Additionally, depending on your spouse’s income, they may be eligible for certain tax deductions that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to take if you weren’t married – and this could ultimately reduce your combined household take-home pay. Therefore, it is important that newlyweds understand how their marital status will impact their taxes, as well as any other benefits that one partner may be receiving from the government or other sources prior to tying the knot.

What types of government benefits are affected by getting married while on disability?

Getting married while on disability can have a significant impact on the type of government benefits you are eligible to receive. Since most disability benefits are calculated based on need, getting married can mean that your partner’s income is factored into the equation and may cause your own benefit payments to be reduced or terminated altogether.

For example, if you are receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, your marriage could affect how much money you get each month. Additionally, certain Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits and other forms of public assistance may be affected by marriage.

It’s important to understand that entering into a marriage does not always disqualify a person from receiving government benefits; however, it can change the amount of money they receive and/or render them ineligible for certain types of benefits such as housing resources like Section 8 and Medical Assistance programs like Medicaid.

It is important to note that federal laws governing Social Security disability benefits also apply to Supplemental Security Income, so it is advised that individuals who rely on SSI seek professional advice before getting married in order to understand the full implications.

What documents are required to get married while on disability?

The documents that are required to get married while on disability vary from state to state, but the general documents needed are: a marriage license, medical certificate (if applicable), valid ID, and proof of income or benefits.

A marriage license is required in order to get married in most states, and can be obtained from the clerk’s office of your local county government office. You will need to fill out an application and pay a nominal fee in order to obtain a license.

If you are getting married due to a medical disability, many states require a doctor’s note attesting to the fact that you do indeed have the disability and that it is serious enough to justify the marriage.



Valid identification is also mandatory for all parties involved. This could include a driver’s license, state identification card, passport, or another form of legal identification. Social security cards may also be requested.

Finally, if either spouse is receiving Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) or Supplemental Security Income (SSI), then their benefit statements will need to be presented as proof of income and/or benefits.



Getting married while on disability does require some extra steps, but beyond that it is just like any other wedding!