How much can my wife work and I still get SSI benefits?

[Neostar]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

Hello, I am disabled and cannot work but I'm receiving regular SSI since I didn't quality for SSI Disability because I didn't work enough. I live in New York state and am currently getting SSI benefits. I have been receiving benefits for about 3 years now. I am getting married in two months and my future wife and I are wondering, how much can she make before I start losing some of my SSI benefits? I called the Social Security office in Plattsburgh and one of the representatives there said that my wife could only make $65 a month before they start taking half of her check away and that I would automatically lose my state check even if my wife doesn't work bringing my monthly total to $733. My wife and I cannot afford to live off of $8,796 a year and we barely make ends meet with the full SSI check that I get now.

I get food stamps and HUD assistance but, it wouldn't be enough. My wife has to work if I lose my state check.

 

[Onderzoek]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? New York

Hello, I am disabled and cannot work but I'm receiving regular SSI since I didn't quality for SSI Disability because I didn't work enough. I live in New York state and am currently getting SSI benefits. I have been receiving benefits for about 3 years now. I am getting married in two months and my future wife and I are wondering, how much can she make before I start losing some of my SSI benefits? I called the Social Security office in Plattsburgh and one of the representatives there said that my wife could only make $65 a month before they start taking half of her check away and that I would automatically lose my state check even if my wife doesn't work bringing my monthly total to $733. My wife and I cannot afford to live off of $8,796 a year and we barely make ends meet with the full SSI check that I get now.

I get food stamps and HUD assistance but, it wouldn't be enough. My wife has to work if I lose my state check.

There is no "regular SSI" and "SSI disability". SSI is Supplemental Security Income. SSDI is the term for Social Security Disability Insurance for disabled workers. You get SSI as a disabled person, unless you are over age 65.

How does your wife support herself now? SSI was not designed to support two people. What is wrong with her getting a job? Seems like a good idea.

SSI will not take away any of HER income. However, there is a formula that is used to determine how much of her income would reduce your SSI.

I don't know enough about NY state supps to give you a valid answer. And there are other variables - is the income earned or unearned, was there child support paid out of it, are there minor children in the home, is there any excluded portions under a cafeteria plan?

If you do a Google search for SSI deeming break even chart, you should be able to enter your variables and get an answer to your question. Or I can give you a link to the formula. My guess is that your SSI would be affected when her gross income (before taxes) exceeds around $800, but probably more if the NY State Supp is considered.

 

[Neostar]

A link to the formula would help a lot because, I'm confused by the chart I found on Google. I called social security this morning and they said that my benefits would go down if my wife made $800 gross a month and that it was impossible to tell me how much because they went off of percentages. When I asked what percentages they used they said they couldn't tell me. The Social security office isn't helpful at all as I'm getting different answers from different people.

I mean, I'll lose my state benefit check of $87. I get that much. My total will be $733. Got it, what I don't understand is how much my wife is able to make before my $733 benefits go down.

There are no children or child support or any unearned income involved. We are completely living off of my food stamps ($150), HUD ($181), and SSI, ($733) bringing our total income to $1,064. I'm just concerned because we barely survived as it was with the $820 I used to get from SSI. We had around $15 left over every month. Now, we're losing $87 next month and, I don't know what to do. And, we want to have children one day and from what I heard from SSI, she's only allowed to make $300 if we have a child involved. $300 doesn't cover the cost of a child. I just don't know what to do.

 

[RRevak]

I'm trying to wrap my head around why your fiancee isn't working. Even if the amount you receive every month goes down, that amount would be offset by whatever amount she brings home. So from where I see it, you are potentially looking at a better financial situation if BOTH of you are bringing home income despite your monthly amount decreasing. So why are you worried about your monthly amount going down?

 

[Proserpina]

There are no children or child support or any unearned income involved. We are completely living off of my food stamps ($150), HUD ($181), and SSI, ($733) bringing our total income to $1,064. I'm just concerned because we barely survived as it was with the $820 I used to get from SSI. We had around $15 left over every month. Now, we're losing $87 next month and, I don't know what to do. And, we want to have children one day and from what I heard from SSI, she's only allowed to make $300 if we have a child involved. $300 doesn't cover the cost of a child. I just don't know what to do.

You can't afford children. The tax payers do not want to raise them for you.

She needs a job. The tax payers don't want to support her, either.

 

[Proserpina]

I'm trying to wrap my head around why your fiancee isn't working. Even if the amount you receive every month goes down, that amount would be offset by whatever amount she brings home. So from where I see it, you are potentially looking at a better financial situation if BOTH of you are bringing home income despite your monthly amount decreasing. So why are you worried about your monthly amount going down?

Why should she work if the state is supporting her as well as him?

I should probably shut up now, shouldn't I? Before I go off on a rant?

 

[Neostar]

I'm trying to wrap my head around why your fiancee isn't working. Even if the amount you receive every month goes down, that amount would be offset by whatever amount she brings home. So from where I see it, you are potentially looking at a better financial situation if BOTH of you are bringing home income despite your monthly amount decreasing. So why are you worried about your monthly amount going down?

It'd depend on how much it went down. If in the end we're only left ahead like $100 what would be the point in her working? If what the other person said is true and she's allowed to make $800 then yes, that'd help significantly. We'd go from less than $10k gross to $18-$20k or even if we were allowed to make $15k. But if it only went up to $10k what would be the point in her working? That's why she hasn't worked. I'm disabled and I cannot work so, the only person left able to work is her.

That's the reasoning behind my "plight". Also, if she's only allowed to make $100 more that isn't going to make a significant difference in our life either.

 

[RRevak]

Why should she work if the state is supporting her as well as him?

I should probably shut up now, shouldn't I? Before I go off on a rant?

I guess I was looking for a viable reason why she wasn't working and them living in total poverty rather than her doing so. Either they're complete freeloaders (in which case I'm at a loss for words at finding out people like that really DO exist) or there is a legit reason they're choosing to live with zero. I mean, there is living in poverty and then there is this level of poverty. Do people REALLY prefer that to working????

 

[RRevak]

It'd depend on how much it went down. If in the end we're only left ahead like $100 what would be the point in her working? If what the other person said is true and she's allowed to make $800 then yes, that'd help significantly. We'd go from less than $10k gross to $18-$20k or even if we were allowed to make $15k. But if it only went up to $10k what would be the point in her working? That's why she hasn't worked. I'm disabled and I cannot work so, the only person left able to work is her.

That's the reasoning behind my "plight". Also, if she's only allowed to make $100 more that isn't going to make a significant difference in our life either.

Um, i'm not a mathematician but $100 ahead is much better than only being $15 ahead. Your logic is very flawed, esp if there are plans for future children.

Wait, why could she not make more than $800 per month? Again, her additional income would still offset any of your losses. I'm starting to see why Pro might have answered the way she did....

 

[Proserpina]

I guess I was looking for a viable reason why she wasn't working and them living in total poverty rather than her doing so. Either they're complete freeloaders (in which case I'm at a loss for words at finding out people like that really DO exist) or there is a legit reason they're choosing to live with zero. I mean, there is living in poverty and then there is this level of poverty. Do people REALLY prefer that to working????

Looks like our questions were answered.

I shall now withdraw from the conversation, because I'm one of the saps who qualifies medically for SSI disability, but can't claim it because... my husband WORKS full time.

Color me disgusted.

 

[RRevak]

OP how much is your soon to be wife CAPABLE of making per month? Depending on the answer, it seems your situation might be better served with a financial planner rather than looking to see how much of your benefits you can keep per month.

 

[RRevak]

Looks like our questions were answered.

I shall now withdraw from the conversation, because I'm one of the saps who qualifies medically for SSI disability, but can't claim it because... my husband WORKS full time.

Color me disgusted.

Yeah I was really hoping it was a situation like OP's fiancee was awaiting disability herself or something (I seem to remember being told one could not work while awaiting a claim or appeal) or the very least there being medical reasons etc but alas, I'm wrong and it seems the ball is more in your favor. I honestly cannot imagine willingly living with such a meager amount. I know people do it and somehow make it work. I just can't imagine doing it on purpose

 

[commentator]

My question in all this is, why the heck would you get married and combine your amazing income potential here? If you want to keep on as you have, that seems to be working, but if you guys get married, that's another kettle of fish, now isn't it?

Yes, guys, there are actually people, and places in life where getting benefits instead of working at the marginal jobs that these (I suspect) very marginally employable people could get is a better choice for them realistically. I had many occasions where I watched people get off public assistance, get into a job, and all that happened was that the job lasted (not necessarily because of something they did) just a very short time, and then they were right back in the same situation, having to get back on assistance. It's not like this woman was deciding whether or not to work as an IT specialist and make $8000 a month, you know.

But OP, the truth of the matter is, if you get SSI, it's based on your income. It will be reduced if you marry and your wife works and produces income. But in the long run, it may still be better for you to go on and get married and have her work, because the income you both make and the insurance and other services you receive will give you some sort of decent life.

There's no way you can pre plan this situation, because there's no way you can plan exactly what she'll make, how long her job will last, etc. You just have to be honest about it all, and do the best you can, and let it work itself out. Someday you may want to have kids. Great, maybe she will have to work and have kids. Being a "stay at home mom" is a luxury some of us never have. We still manage. You are there, maybe you can be a stay at home dad and babysit, taking care of the child care expenses she'd have if she keeps working with a child. Most of the parents I know are working their heads off and just keeping their heads above water, especially if one party in the marriage is disabled. If she loves you, she won't mind working.

 

[ShyCat]

If in the end we're only left ahead like $100 what would be the point in her working?

Gee, I don't know, how about self-respect?

Or the prospect of gaining skills and knowledge that qualify for greater income raises than any meager inflation-based benefit increase?

Or working towards a better life than the bare-bones poverty of SSI?

Nah, I didn't think so....

 

[Onderzoek]

Deeming of income

One of the real problems with reliance on the government to support you and your family is that once you get used to the freebies, it seems not worth your time and effort to get ahead on your own since you don't just lose the cash from SSI or TANF, but you also start losing housing assistance, free lunches in schools, food stamps, reduced costs for education, medical care. The list goes on and on. So, for those who are used to all the freebies, it is difficult to see the benefit in working because it takes a pretty good income to cover all the freebies and people who haven't worked much, or grew up around others who didn't work much don't see the value in making it on their own.

However, here is a link to the income deeming section in the SSA manual.

https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0501320400

Let's say she is earning from her job $885 a month; makes $8.85 per hour, 25 hours a week. Before taxes.

$885 minus $65 minus $20 divide by 2 is $400. The deeming allocation for 2015 is 1/2 of the FBR of $733 so it would be $366.50. $400 minus $366.50 is $33.50. She earns $885 from a job (not a pension, not unemployment, not any non-work money), SSI goes down $33.50. If my math is correct.

Plug in other numbers if you want. Or use the link.

Working gets the two of them more money. Working is how most people make money. Then there are those who look to others to support them.