U.S. Legislators Introduce Bill that Would Allow Disabled Americans to Marry Without Social Security Impacts
A new piece of legislation introduced in the United States Senate this week aims to address the issue Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients currently face if they head down the aisle and say “I do.” According to national news reports, U.S. Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) introduced the bill, which would change the way the Social Security Administration handles “money and property” for SSI recipients seeking to get married.
Under current Social Security Administration rules and regulations, if an SSI recipient marries, their new spouse’s income and other resources count as being contributed to their benefits, which can have the consequence of then reducing their SSI payments. In some cases, newlyweds who receive SSI could be taken off the program entirely, under the current rules and regulations. Senator Chris Van Hollen said of the Bill that he co-introduced, “I’m working alongside Senator Moran to build support for this legislation that will help people with disabilities strengthen their financial security while supporting their freedom to marry. As a common-sense, bipartisan solution, we’ll be looking for opportunities to pass this bill, and I’m confident in its prospects.” Advocate of the Bill, Alex Beene, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Texas at Martin said in support of it, “The SSI marriage penalty can be a barrier for retirement and financial planning for disabled clients by lowering or eliminating benefits when a couple’s combined income and assets exceed eligibility limits. This ironically can create a disincentive for marriage, as disabled individuals could risk losing vital income and healthcare coverage. It also complicates savings and retirement planning, as any increase in assets or income could lead to the loss of benefits and make their financial future less than stable.” Meanwhile, Mary Johnson, an independent policy analyst stated, “Since SSI beneficiaries are low income, they frequently are recipients of Medicaid and other states administered benefits. Federal legislation may be an attempt to bring more consistency to how, when, and why adjustments of benefits are made.” Whether the bill passes the Senate and moves on to become law remains to be seen, and disability benefits recipients and advocates have their fingers crossed.
Legal Help for Disabled Individuals – Social Security Disability Lawyer
Importantly, the new bill would impact those who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and not those who currently receive Social Security Disability Insurance (SSD, or SSDI). SSD recipients are eligible for benefits based on their work history and the amount that they paid into the system, and marriage does not impact their important benefits. However, if you plan to change your marital status, or you have other changes in your finances while seeking or receiving SSDI benefits, it is best to speak to an experienced Social Security Disability lawyer about your case.
The experienced Social Security Disability lawyers at Nationwide Disability Law are here to help disabled individuals with their Social Security Disability benefits cases. Do not hesitate to speak to an experienced lawyer about your case today. Contact Nationwide Disability Law and speak to a lawyer about your case now.
Source:
newsweek.com/social-security-benefits-could-change-under-new-bill-whos-impacted-2015582
