Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act
Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act
Plain Language Summary
# Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act Summary **What the Bill Does** This bill would remove marriage-related penalties for disabled adults and children receiving federal benefits. Currently, disabled adults and children who receive Social Security child's benefits lose those payments if they get married—unless they marry someone else also eligible for Social Security benefits. Similarly, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients face restrictions if they're considered married. The bill would eliminate these marriage requirements, allowing people to marry without automatically losing their disability benefits. **Who It Affects** The bill primarily affects disabled adults (whose disabilities began before age 22) who receive benefits as the children of Social Security-eligible workers, as well as SSI recipients.
These individuals currently must choose between marriage and maintaining their financial support. The bill also affects their spouses and families who may depend on these benefit payments. **Current Status** The bill (HR 1389) was introduced by Representative Jimmy Panetta (D-California) in the 119th Congress and is currently in committee, meaning it hasn't yet been voted on by the full House. No further action has been taken at this time.
CRS Official Summary
Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults ActThis bill eliminates certain marriage-related criteria for individuals entitled to Social Security child’s benefits and Supplemental Security Income (SSI).Specifically, the bill removes the requirement that individuals receiving Social Security child’s benefits be unmarried. Those eligible for Social Security child’s benefits generally include the minor children of eligible or deceased workers and disabled adult children (the disabled adult children of such workers for whom the onset of disability occurred before age 22). Under current law, child beneficiaries generally lose their benefits upon marriage to an individual who is not also eligible for Social Security benefits. With respect to SSI, the bill removes the requirement that couples who present themselves as married in their community be considered married for purposes of SSI eligibility. The bill also exempts SSI recipients who are disabled adult children, or who marry disabled adult children, from the general requirement that the income or resources of an SSI recipient’s spouse be considered in an eligibility determination. Further, married disabled adult children and their spouses who would otherwise be eligible for Medicaid in a state if they were unmarried must remain eligible for Medicaid regardless of their marriage.
Latest Action
Referred to the Committee on Ways and Means, and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.