Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act

House Bill

H.R. 1389

119th Congress

Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act

In Committee

Introduced:Feb 14, 2025

Primary Sponsor

Garland Barr

Representative

Republican

KY-6

Cosponsors

9

Quick Stats

Policy Area

Social Welfare

Summary

This bill removes marriage penalties that cause disabled adults receiving Social Security child benefits and SSI to lose their benefits when they marry. It allows disabled adult children to marry without losing benefits and protects their Medicaid eligibility regardless of marital status.

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.

AI Summary

Plain-English explanation of this bill

This bill removes marriage penalties that cause disabled adults receiving Social Security child benefits and SSI to lose their benefits when they marry. It allows disabled adult children to marry without losing benefits and protects their Medicaid eligibility regardless of marital status.

Last updated: 1/6/2026

Official Summary

Congressional Research Service 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.

Key Points

Main provisions of the bill

Removes marriage requirement from Social Security child benefits
Allows disabled adult children to marry without losing benefits
Stops counting spouse income for disabled adult SSI recipients
Protects Medicaid eligibility for married disabled adults
Addresses marriage penalty affecting people with disabilities

How This Impacts Americans

Potential effects on citizens and communities

Adults with disabilities would no longer face losing benefits if they marry. People receiving Social Security child benefits or SSI due to disability could marry without financial penalty. This removes a significant barrier to marriage for disabled individuals.

Policy Areas

Primary Policy Area

Social Welfare

Related Subjects

Disability and health-based discrimination

Disability and paralysis

Disability assistance

Family relationships

Marriage and family status

Medicaid

Poverty and welfare assistance

Social security and elderly assistance

Tax administration and collection, taxpayers

Scope & Jurisdiction

Jurisdiction Level

federal

Congressional Session

119th Congress

Citation Reference

1389, 119th Congress (2025). "Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act". Source: Voter's Right Platform. https://votersright.org/bills/118-hr-1389