Will Your Spouse’s Income Affect Your Social Security Benefits?

Filing for Social Security benefits in Ohio can be confusing. There is a myriad of information you must include on your application that might affect your ability to receive benefits. When it comes to calculating household income, your spouse’s income can impact your right to collect benefits if you are seeking low-income, need-based disability support — Supplemental Security Income (SSI). However, Social Security Disability (SSD) has no income limits.

If You Seek SSI Benefits

If you do seek SSI benefits, there are a few things you should know regarding how your marital income will be calculated:

  • When you apply for benefits, the SSI program may “deem” some of your spouse’s income to you, meaning it is considered available to you. Depending upon the size of his or her income, this could lower how much you can collect from the SSI program.
  • If your spouse earns more than $361 each month, this income can be deemed to you. However, if you have a child, he or she must earn more than $721 for it to be subject to deeming. For each additional child, the necessary income level increases further in order to qualify for deeming.
  • If the SSI program determines that your spouse’s income is eligible for deeming, it uses a complex formula to determine how much of it will be deemed to you. First, it deducts $361 from your spouse’s income for each child you may have. Then it adds the remaining income to your income.

Then, you may take certain deductions to determine your countable income for SSI purposes.

Capped at $721 per Month

Next you can subtract this amount from the SSI income limit for a couple, not for an individual. Whatever remains is your monthly SSI benefit. It is capped at $721, though, so if the remaining amount is more than that, you cannot collect beyond this limit.

Additionally, if the remainder is zero or less, you do not qualify for SSI benefits.

Determining SSD and SSI benefits can be complicated. For the guidance you need related to calculating benefits or the appeals process, consult a knowledgeable Ohio Social Security Disability attorney with Clements, Taylor, Butkovich & Cohen LPA, Co. today.