Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act

The Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act would remove marriage-related penalties from two major federal assistance programs. Currently, disabled adults receiving Social Security child's benefits lose those benefits if they marry someone who is not also eligible for Social Security. Similarly, SSI recipients face eligibility reductions based on a spouse's income and resources. This bill would eliminate these restrictions for disabled adult children and their spouses.

If enacted, the bill would allow disabled adults to marry without automatically losing their benefits or having their spouse's financial situation affect their eligibility. The bill would also ensure that disabled adults who would qualify for Medicaid while unmarried would remain eligible for Medicaid after marriage. Currently, these marriage-related rules can create a financial disincentive for disabled individuals to marry. The bill is currently in committee and has not yet been voted on by the full House.