Hi Larry. I really need some advice. My husband
and I have been married 39 years. But have been separated a long time. Over ten years. I was a stay at home mother and no work history except for 2 years I worked at a daycare . Husband had an affair over 16 years ago. He is still with her. During the separation I got on disability. SSI. $733.00 a month. We lost our home. I receive nothing from him. Years ago he took me off checking account. He and our 26 year old son are renting a house. I am living in a subsidized apartment. He and my son changed their cell numbers. I am still on his health insurance plus I have Medicaid. I have my cousin as my Rep.Payee. I can't remember the last time we talked. It is all so horrible what he has done. We also have a 30 year old married daughter. She just had her 4th child. She is and husband are addicts. Thei 3 children are in Foster homes. Baby I believe has been taken as well. Born just past week. Husband is paying their rent. Sorry, I Know this is confusing. I have anxiety problems. AAHA as well. I just turned 58. Husband just turned 40. He is a federal employee. Should we divorce or just stay living apart? If we divorce and I am awarded alimony how will that affect my SSI? I have the last know address where he lives. My daughter knows but my husband gives and gives to them she won't tell me much. I am totally alienated from them all. Daughter and I text some but they are angry at me for telling it like it is. I don't drive. I feel helpless. My cousin has so much to content with. Hope all this somehow makes sense. Much more I could add. Really want this to remain anonymous. She knows about you from tv. I will end this now. Thank you for any advice. Blessings. (sorry for any typos, grammer mistakes.)

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your troubles. Unfortunately, all I can do to help is to try to answer your question about SSI benefits.

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) is a program administered by the Social Security Administration, but it is not funded by the Social Security trust fund. It is a needs based, last resort type program that provides a small income to people who are blind, disabled or at least age 65 and have no other means of support. If you receive other income, such as alimony, it will cause your SSI benefits to be reduced essentially dollar for dollar. However, your SSI is not offset by the first $20 per month of other income, but that's about the only gain you'd see from alimony, unless it is more than your SSI, in which case the latter would stop altogether.

You state that your husband is age 40, which I assume is a typo if you've been married for 39 years. If and when he becomes eligible for Social Security benefits, you may be eligible for a spousal, or divorced spousal, benefit on his record. You must be at least age 62 to qualify, however, and again any Social Security benefits you receive will offset your SSI benefits essentially dollar for dollar.

Best, Jerry