My live-in spouse and I are both going on to 47 yrs old. Since we are both disabled and getting SSD, we were told by a SS representative 22 yrs ago, that if both recipients were to legally wed, the wife would lose her survivors benefit, although the husband keeps his. Nonetheless the rep recommended that we just live together and Keep It Simple, Silly. So we did just that and are still happily together. She works p/t and I haven't worked since 2011. We have no kids. Question is: when we turn 67, what will happen to our benefits? We are each receiving about $990 each per month. Also, I just began a new online business selling plush dolls. Would any income from that affect my SSD benefits. We both file 'single' on our tax returns. KISS!

Hi, The Social Security Rep seems to have given you terrible advice. Getting married can only help you in so far as the one of you that gets the smaller disability benefit will be able to collect a positive reduced excess widows benefit as early as age 50 if the other spouse dies. Furthermore, the reduction will go away when the survivor reaches full retirement age. You need to be married 9 months to qualified for either spousal or disability benefits. If your earnings are relative similar, neither of you will likely be able to collect an excess spousal benefit on the others' record.

I also don't expect your income taxes will rise if you get married and file jointly. I would run our software with your both being single and then with your both being married. Try out different maximum ages of death. You'll then be able to see the potential gain from getting married. You can also run ESPlanner at www.esplanner.com to understand how getting married versus staying partnered will affect your taxes.

best, Larry