I Live near Atlanta, Ga. and am 55 years old and on permanent disability... have been for 19 years. Left brain injury, PTSD, Post concussive syndrome. The Girl I'm dating is 66 and currently employed in Florida. Will my monthly income check stay the same, drop, do anything If I get married? She is obviously single and plans on working until 70, still working on that part. She talked to an SS agent, he gave her a number as to what she would receive at 70. We weren't talking about marriage then but are now. Will the number he gave her being single, change if she is married? Ya, that's why I'm writing. I hope this one isn't over your pay grade. Tried to call S/S myself, no one around because of the Corona virus.... Please help... Thanks, Greg Also, will I receive a check for 1200 under the Economic Package or does that exclude everyone on Social security??? Thanks for your time, Stay healthy

Hi,

As long as what you're receiving is Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits and not Supplemental Security Income (SSI), then getting married would have no effect on your benefits. Getting married would also have no impact on the Social Security retirement benefits that your friend could receive based on her work history. SSI on the other hand is a needs based benefit, and if a person is married then their spouse's income and resources are considered when determining if the person meets the requirements to qualify.

The coronavirus relief bill has not yet been signed into law, but in the version passed by the senate Social Security recipients would qualify for a $1200 stimulus payment as long as their yearly adjusted gross income is less than $75,000. Initially it was reported that SSI recipients would not qualify, but it now appears that they will.

If you do marry, since your friend is apparently full retirement age (FRA) it's possible that she could receive spousal benefits if what you're receiving is SSDI. And, if she was born prior to January 2 1954, she could potentially file just for spousal benefits while letting her own benefit rate grow until age 70. However, a person must normally have been married for at least a year in order to qualify for spousal benefits, so she probably couldn't be eligible for spousal benefits any sooner than the month of your first marriage anniversary.

Also, if your new wife's primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as your PIA then it's possible that you could qualify for spousal benefits as early as age 62. A person's PIA is equal to their full SSDI rate, or their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing at FRA. Our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) would allow you and your friend explore your benefit options and help you determine the best strategy for maximizing your benefits.

Best, Jerry