A major change to Social Security benefits is gaining momentum and millions of Americans could benefit, especially those who receive Supplementary Security Income. A new bill called the Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act, aims to remove penalties for married recipients. This bill will ensure that getting married will no longer be a cause of reduced benefits as it has been in the past.
With bipartisan support, growing public awareness, and advocacy from disability rights organizations, this move is a step towards ensuring greater financial security among couples who rely on Social Security payments.
Besides these plans, more discussions such as spouse benefits, survivor benefits and retirement age are set to continue shaping the future of social security.
Marriage Will No Longer Attract a Financial Penalty
Currently, individuals who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) face a reduction in their benefits after marriage. A married couple receiving SSI gets 25% less as compared to two unmarried individuals living together. For example, if two individuals each receiving $841 per month got married, they would only get $1261 combined.
The new bill, the Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act, now seeks to change this thanks to Congressman David Valadao (R-CA) and Representative Susie Lee(D-NV) who introduced this act. Additionally, the legislation would allow SSI recipients to keep their full benefits in case they divorce.
Why This is a Win for SSI Beneficiaries
This matter is a win for over 7 million Americans who rely on SSI benefits as of 2025. Because of this act, marriage is now a personal choice and not a reason for a financial penalty.
Organizations like the National Down Syndrome Society, Autism Speaks and the Autism Society of America are in full support of this bill. Congressmen like Valadao have shown considerable support for the bill, and he went ahead to say that the bill ensures people with disabilities receive the benefits they need while protecting their right to marry.
Challenges Facing This Bill
Although this has garnered support with many saying that it is a good step towards greater financial security for beneficiaries, financial experts have warned that Social Security is already facing a funding crisis. This bill also comes at a time when Elon Musk, through his Department of Government Efficiency plans to reduce costs and waste of public funds by reducing the Social Security Administration Workforce.
How Spousal Benefits Work Under Social Security
Married couples, widows, and divorcees can also claim benefits based on their spouse’s work history. Spouses can receive up to 50% of their partner’s Social Security benefits if it is greater than what they would receive on their earnings. Spouses can also collect benefits at the same time. Lastly, if a spouse delays their claim until age 70, they can receive up to 77% more in benefits as compared to if they claimed at age 62.
How Divorcees Benefit from Social Security
If a couple was married for at least 10 years, an ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security spousal benefits based on their former partner’s earning records as long as they are not remarried. If an ex-spouse dies, the surviving partner may be eligible to receive up to 100% of the deceased spouse’s benefits. However, this depends on their own retirement status and age.
Other Social Security Benefits Beyond Marriage
In addition to eliminating the married penalty for SSI recipients, over 3.2 million retirees, mainly firefighters, civil servants, and police officers, could benefit from the repeal of the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO). These provisions had previously reduced or eliminated benefits for workers with government pensions.
Due to the Social Security Fairness Act which was signed into law on January 5, 2025, many retirees who lost out on benefits due to their employment history will now receive increased monthly checks and even retroactive payments for benefits that were missed from the past year.
The Future of Social Security.
With experts warning that Social Security could run out of full funding by the mid-2030s, major reforms are under consideration. Although the Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act is a promising step for millions of beneficiaries, funding claims and recent developments from DOGE could complicate efforts to pass it.
What You Should Do.
With all these potential changes, it is important to stay informed about Social Security benefits by;
- Review your eligibility, especially if you are a government retiree, married, single, or even divorced.
- Time your claim wisely- Waiting until full retirement age and later can significantly increase your monthly payout.
- Track new legislation because many reforms are still in discussion.