15 Jan How are survivor benefits affected by SSI?

Q. If I am receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI) at age 61. If I remarry at age 67, can I continue survivor benefits until the age of 70? That way — to collect more benefits of my own at age 70? Would I be penalized for my spouse income after age 67?
— Planning ahead

A. There’s a lot to go into maximizing Social Security benefits.

But first, your SSI benefit.

SSI is need-based and therefore, the agency will look at not only the household income, but also assets for you and your spouse, said Jody D’Agostini, a certified financial planner with The Falcon Financial Group in Morristown.

“They will deem that a part of your spouse’s income is available for you, and if that amount is high enough, your payments could be reduced or even eliminated,” D’Agostini said.

The asset limit for SSI is $2,000, and if you are married, rises to $3,000, she said. This includes any cash, bank and investment accounts. If marital assets exceed $3,000, then the SSI would be eliminated, she said.

“The amount you collect on your work history for your Social Security retirement benefit will not be impacted by any income from marriage,” she said. “That is not dependent upon household income. It would be wise to consider the optimal time to convert to that benefit.”

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This story was originally published in January 2026. 

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