Will living with someone affect my benefits?

Asked by: Kayden Gleichner  |  Last update: May 21, 2025
Score: 4.3/5 (42 votes)

Any food or shelter you get from someone else that you do not pay for may reduce your SSI benefit. However, we do not reduce your benefit if your spouse who is living with you provides these items.

Does living with someone affect Social Security benefits?

You can live with whomever you like as long as you being on SSI pay you share of living expenses, rent/mortgage, utilities and food. Any amount that that you are unable to pay for your share for that month will be deducted from your benefits up to...

Will I lose my SSI if I move in with my boyfriend?

Yes, moving in with your boyfriend can potentially affect your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. SSI is a needs-based program, and your living situation is considered when determining your eligibility and benefit amount. Here are some key points to consider:

What happens if you don't report marriage to Social Security?

We may apply a penalty that will reduce your SSI payment by $25 to $100 for each time you fail to report a change to us, or you report the change later than 10 days after the end of the month in which the change occurred.

Can you get disability if you live with someone?

You can get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) if you live with an adult son or daughter, or with siblings, cousins or unrelated roommates, for that matter. Such an arrangement can reduce your monthly benefit, though, depending on how much you contribute to food and shelter costs for the household.

Can Your Living Arrangements Affect the Amount of Your Disability Benefit?

39 related questions found

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security?

Indeed, here are three ways you can lose at least part of your Social Security benefit.
  • No. 1: Keep working while taking benefits early. ...
  • No. 2: Be a substantially lower-earning spouse. ...
  • No. 3: Be alive in 2034. ...
  • Social Security still provides an important foundation for retirement.

Does having a roommate affect SSDI?

Living with someone else will have no impact on an SSDI benefit. If you have questions about your specific circumstances, take our case evaluation.

Can getting married affect disability benefits?

If you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. However, other benefits such as SSI, Survivors, Divorced Spouses, and Child's benefits may be affected.

What does proof of living arrangements mean?

How Do I Prove My Living Arrangements? Sometimes, the Social Security Administration (SSA) will ask you to prove your living arrangements. To do this, send or bring in current rent receipts or lease agreements and utility bills. They must show your address and the amount that you are supposed to pay.

What are the benefits of being married but living separately?

It provides breathing room to prevent further conflict and gives each person time to reflect and heal. Separation can also allow to experience independence while keeping your relationship legally intact. The legalities of separation also make reuniting easier, should you choose to do so.

What happens if I move in with someone on benefits?

You must tell the DWP when you start living together. If you live with your partner, you will need to make a joint claim for some benefits. For example, Universal Credit. A joint claim is usually less than if you did not live together and made 2 individual claims.

Can an unmarried partner collect Social Security?

When Can a Stay-at-Home Partner Get Social Security? If you're not married and have never been married, you can't qualify for Social Security unless you earn your own work credits.

What can cause you to lose your Social Security disability benefits?

The termination of benefits in the Social Security disability program is based predominantly on four factors: conversion to the retirement program (that is, attainment of full retirement age), death, medical recovery, and work recovery.

Can you live with someone and still collect Social Security?

If an eligible individual lives with another person and they are not married or are not representing themselves as husband or wife, the eligible individual's SSI benefit is determined without considering the income from the other person.

What can reduce my Social Security benefits?

If you are younger than full retirement age and earn more than the yearly earnings limit, we may reduce your benefit amount. If you are under full retirement age for the entire year, we deduct $1 from your benefit payments for every $2 you earn above the annual limit. For 2025, that limit is $23,400.

What is an example of a living arrangement?

Your living arrangement is where you live, if you live alone or with someone else, or if you live in an institution, such as a nursing home.

Will my SSI change if I move in with someone?

Any food or shelter you get from someone else that you do not pay for may reduce your SSI benefit. However, we do not reduce your benefit if your spouse who is living with you provides these items.

How can I avoid losing my SSI benefits?

It may be possible for you to save money and be able to keep your SSI payments and waiver services. The four most common ways to save money and not lose benefits are with an ABLE account, a Special Needs Trust, an Individual Development Account, and a PASS account.

What is the $943 Social Security payment?

Generally, the maximum Federal SSI benefit amount changes yearly. SSI benefits increased in 2024 because there was an increase in the Consumer Price Index from the third quarter of 2022 to the third quarter of 2023. Effective January 1, 2024 the Federal benefit rate is $943 for an individual and $1,415 for a couple.

What is the most approved disability?

Overall, however, the most approved disability for Social Security is disabilities involving the musculoskeletal system and/or connective tissues. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), such conditions include arthritis, back pain, and lupus.

What is the marriage penalty for SSI?

The so-called marriage penalty, for instance, results from SSI's limit on how much someone can own in savings and assets. It's $2,000 for an individual and $3,000 for a couple. Those levels haven't budged since 1989.

Can I get disability if my husband makes money?

SSDI eligibility is based on your own work history and medical condition, not your spouse's income.

Can you live with someone while on disability?

In other arrangements, the SSA may reduce your benefits. Some changes that lead the SSA to reduce your benefits include: Living in another person's home and not paying your fair share of housing costs and food. Someone else paying for your food and housing costs while you live alone.

Does SSDI send people to watch you?

Does Social Security Disability Follow You? If red flags have been raised about your disability, Social Security may hire a private investigator to “catch” you performing activities you have previously stated you can not because of your disability.

What is the 1/3 rule for SSI?

We may reduce your Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payment by one-third if you live in another person's household throughout a month and you do not pay for the food and shelter you get from the household.