About Me

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Middle of the US, IN
I am an artist in my early(yikes)50’s

Thursday, January 05, 2006

My Thoughts on SSI and Marriage

ok something to talk about...
In my situation, I am on SSI/Disability. Why is not important and is something I will get to at a later time suffice to say just for the curious among you, I have a birth defect. But for these intense and purposes that is not my problem. As stated in the intro to my blog, I have a boyfriend. We have decided to spend the rest of our lives together. However, I cannot get married because if I do then I will lose my benefits under SSI/Disability. I do have a couple options..

1) I can wait until my boyfriend can support us both financially...(A prospect that I find unfair in that it is up to both people in a relationship to contribute to the household. I do that now in my own meager way, but that would still leaves me with no money of my own.)
2) We could not get married. Since children are not an option this seems to be the most obvious option.

I am told that there are elderly people that have to do this as well only in their case they are often times looking at losing both incomes.

1 comment:

Unknown said...

I totally understand your situation. I am in a similar situation. While I am not on SSI/Disability. I work and my fiance does not work. This allows him to stay home w/ the kids and get financial aid for college. If we get married, he would lose the financial aid. We decided that it would be better to NOT get married right now. WE both know that we're going to be together. We don't REALLY need a piece of paper telling us that! The only drawback would be in the event of death. Then the other person would not be qualified for benefits. But hopefully that is a LONG way down the road!! So, I would say, not to get married right now. There's always time for that in the future when you both get MUCH older! But then, like you said, most elderly are divorcing as well in order to obtain benefits. hmmm. Just co-habitate. Never mind what other people will say!!