Marriage is a significant time in a person’s life, accompanied by excitement, meticulous planning, and the involvement of friends, family, and loved ones. But marriage may have financial consequences for adults with disabilities. Recipients of Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits or Supplemental Security Income (SSI) may experience a reduction of, or even disqualification from, these benefits upon marriage.
(Disabled Adult Child benefits are also commonly referred to as Childhood Disability Benefits or “CDB” but will be referred to as “DAC” benefits throughout this article). An adult with disabilities should be able to live independently and pursue their relationships, goals, and dreams. A careful assessment of the consequences of marriage upon DAC or SSI benefits should be considered.
An individual with a disability, who is planning on marrying, can potentially lose benefits for their lifetime. Therefore, it is crucial that the person with disabilities, their future spouse, and their advisors understand the potential financial consequences of marriage on their Social Security benefits. This analysis can be complex, so careful planning, assistance, and advice in Social Security navigation with an expert are needed.
