A new bill focused on marriage has been introduced that could have a major impact on payments of millions of Supplementary Security Income (SSI).
If approved, the SSI benefits will remain the same amount even after the recipient is married. Newsweek We talked to experts about the possibility of getting it through.
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Why is it important?
As of January 2025, over 7 million Americans received monthly SSI payments.
These benefits are paid to Americans with limited income, disability, or over the age of 65. Currently, if you marry due to the financial impact of having another adult in your household, the amount you receive in your monthly SSI payment will decrease.
What do you know
Congressman David Valadao (CA-22) and Representative Susie Lee (NV-03) reintroduced the elimination of marriage penalties under the SSI Act (EMPSA) as a way to remove marriage penalties for SSI recipients.
Americans currently receiving SSI payments due to intellectual or developmental disorders will see their monthly profits decline after marriage.
For married couples who receive SSI and have no other income, the SSI payments are 25% less than the total they receive if they lived together, not as husband and wife.
Therefore, if each beneficiary first wins $841 a month, they will receive only $1,261 together after marriage.
So far, the American organizations of the National Down Syndrome Association, Autism Talk and the Autism Association have come out in support of the bill.
As of February 27, the bill had been introduced to the House Committee on Methods and Means.
Previous bills were introduced by Senators Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) and Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) to similarly remove penalties for disability benefits for SSI recipients who choose to marry.
What people are saying
California Republican Rep. David Valadao said in a statement: “There's no need to choose between love and financial security, but outdated SSI rules unfairly punish married people with disabilities. This bill is a common sense solution that allows people with intellectual or developmental disabilities to receive the necessary benefits while protecting their right to marry.”
Nevada Democratic leader Susie Lee said in a statement: “No one should be punished for getting married, especially when it comes to accessing the important benefits that many people in our community rely on. Eliminating the marriage penalty under the SSI Act is a very necessary step for married adults with diagnosed intellectual and developmental disabilities to get all the dollars in supplemental security income.”
Alex Bine, a financial literacy instructor at the University of Tennessee, Martin, Newsweek: “This particular proposal allows recipients of supplementary security income with disabilities to maintain the same level of payment even when they get married. This usually leads to reductions. Such a move will certainly find support, as it is easy for financial advances for people with disabilities to be widely supported not only among Congress but also among American voters, taxes. With programs in already unstable solvency, it is difficult for all of these proposals to see the light of day financially.”
said Michael Ryan, a financial expert and founder of Michaelryanmoney.com. Newsweek: “Now, if you're on an SSI and get married, it appears that the government is playing this strange financial game where “catch you if you can.” Do you want your spouse's income to protect your interests?
What will happen next
If the bill gains more momentum and bipartisan support, it could go to the president's desk for approval through Congress.
However, there may be budget concerns related to the law as the Social Security Agency faces a funding crisis.
If nothing changes, economists predict that by the mid-2030s, Social Security will run out of money for full payments.
“The proposed changes are pretty big. No spouse's income? It doesn't matter. Your individual interests? Completely unharmed. It's like giving a disabled couple a big permit to live their best lives,” Ryan said.
“Now, will it be handed over? It has some serious momentum. Sponsorship from organizations like autism, bipartisan support – it looks promising. But you know what Congress will look like.”
