Will I qualify for Social Security spousal benefits if I marry someone on SSDI?

Yes, you might qualify for spousal benefits based on his SSDI record. Since you're already at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), you could potentially receive up to 50% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). However, there are several factors to consider: 1. If you've earned Social Security benefits on your own record, SSA will pay that amount first, and if your spousal benefit would be higher, you'd get the difference to reach that higher amount. 2. Since your only income is alimony, it sounds like you may not have enough work credits for your own benefit, so the spousal benefit could be your primary option. 3. Be aware that marriage could affect your alimony payments - many divorce agreements terminate alimony upon remarriage, so you need to check your divorce decree. I'd recommend setting up an appointment with SSA to discuss your specific situation before making any decisions.

be careful!! my sister got married and lost ALL her alimony and the ss benefits weren't even close to what she was getting before. check the math carefully!!

I was in the EXACT same situation 2 years ago!!! Married my boyfriend who was on SSDI and I had been getting alimony. The problem isn't just that your alimony stops - which WILL happen the moment you say "I do" - but the math rarely works out in your favor. If he gets $1,675, the MOST you could get is around $837 (that's the 50%). But WAIT - Social Security doesn't just give you that automatically. They take into account your total household income after marriage and it affects benefits. TRUST ME when I say this - I spent WEEKS trying to get someone at SSA to talk to me. Impossible!!! Phone lines always busy, office appts backed up for months. By the time I finally talked to someone, we were already married and I had ALREADY lost my alimony. DO NOT MAKE MY MISTAKE!!!!

There's a lot of confusion here that needs clarification: 1. SSDI converts to retirement benefits when your boyfriend reaches FRA (probably around 66-67 depending on birth year). 2. Spousal benefits based on SSDI work the same as those based on retirement benefits - up to 50% at your FRA. 3. Your household income doesn't directly impact the amount of spousal benefits - that's not how the calculation works. What matters is your own work record and benefit eligibility. 4. Since you're already past FRA, you could apply for spousal benefits immediately after marriage without reduction. Yes, losing alimony is a consideration, but the comparison isn't just alimony vs. spousal benefits. It should be: alimony vs. spousal benefits PLUS the financial benefits of combining households (shared housing costs, insurance, etc.). I suggest making an appointment with SSA to get an official calculation based on your specific situation.

I tried for WEEKS to get through to Social Security to ask almost this exact question when my girlfriend and I were thinking about getting married (I'm on SSDI too). Impossible to reach anyone! I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Worth every penny because I finally got specific answers for our situation instead of guessing. The agent actually ran the numbers for us based on both our records. Much better than trying random advice from the internet for something this important!

The SSA rules about marriage and benefits are RIDICULOUS!!! My brother lost over $300/month in benefits when he got married, and he had no idea it would happen. The government basically PUNISHES people for getting married. Why should your benefits change just because you signed some legal paper? It's not like either of you suddenly has more money just because you got married! This whole system is DESIGNED to confuse people and keep them from getting their full benefits. They make the rules so complicated that nobody understands them, and then they make it IMPOSSIBLE to talk to anyone who can explain them clearly. If I were you, I'd look into whether a domestic partnership might give you the legal protections you want WITHOUT triggering the marriage penalties in the Social Security system. The rules vary by state though.

A few more points to consider before you make your decision: 1. If your boyfriend's SSDI is based on a relatively high earnings history, and your alimony is based on a lower income level, getting married might make financial sense. But based on the numbers you've shared ($1,675 SSDI, $1,950 alimony), it appears marriage would create a financial shortfall. 2. Look beyond just monthly cash flow. Marriage affects inheritance rights, medical decision-making, tax filing status, and healthcare access. Some of these could provide significant financial or practical benefits. 3. Some divorces have provisions for partial continuation of alimony even after remarriage - check your divorce decree carefully. 4. Remember that your spousal benefit would increase if your boyfriend waits until his Full Retirement Age to convert from SSDI to retirement benefits. This is a complex decision that merges financial considerations with emotional ones. I'd recommend consulting both an SSA representative and a financial advisor who specializes in retirement planning before making your decision.

My cousin was in a similar situation last year. She ended up just living with her boyfriend without getting legally married. They had a commitment ceremony with family and friends, exchange rings, call each other husband and wife, but legally they're single. That way she keeps her alimony and there's no negative impact on his benefits. They've been happy with this arrangement. Obviously there are some legal protections you don't get this way, but they took care of most of that with wills, advanced directives, and power of attorney documents. Something to consider if the numbers don't work out for a legal marriage.