If I marry my girlfriend, 67, will she lose her Supplemental Security Income and divorced spouse benefits?
“She has been living with me for four years.”
The issue at hand involves understanding how marriage affects Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and divorced spouse benefits from Social Security. SSI is a needs-based program provided by the Social Security Administration (SSA) to disabled, blind, and elderly individuals who have limited income and resources. Divorced spouse benefits, on the other hand, are based on the spouse's work record and are paid by Social Security.
Marriage can impact these benefits because it changes an individual's marital status, which is a factor in determining eligibility and payment amounts for both SSI and Social Security benefits. For SSI, marriage can affect the individual's income and resource limits, potentially impacting eligibility. For divorced spouse benefits, remarriage generally ends eligibility for those benefits based on a prior spouse's record.
To watch next, the individual should contact the Social Security Administration directly to discuss how marriage would specifically affect their girlfriend's benefits. The SSA can provide personalized guidance based on their specific situation, including how combining incomes and resources might affect SSI eligibility and what happens to divorced spouse benefits upon remarriage. It's also wise to consider consulting with a financial advisor who has experience in Social Security and SSI to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the potential impacts on their financial situation.
Originally reported by marketwatch.com. Expo-News adds analysis for finance & markets readers.