Marriage, Social Security, and SSI: Benefits, Penalties, and Public Opinion

For many Americans, marriage isn't just about love — it's also a financial decision. Social Security offers advantages for married individuals, including spousal and survivor benefits. Single individuals and some divorced spouses miss out on these income boosts, raising concerns about fairness.

Meanwhile, recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) face a marriage penalty that reduces benefits for couples. Because SSI is needs-based, a married couple's combined income and assets are counted together, often lowering their payments compared to what they'd receive individually. To avoid losing benefits, some choose not to marry.

To understand how Social Security and SSI rules shape marriage decisions and financial security, we surveyed 1,006 Americans across different marital statuses and generations.

Key takeaways

• 68% of Americans believe Social Security benefits should be equal for everyone, regardless of marital status, with the highest support among single individuals (74%).

• Only 24% of Americans believe they're getting a fair deal from Social Security.

• 1 in 4 Americans factor Social Security benefits into their marriage decisions, and 28% avoid marriage entirely because it would affect SSI benefits.

• 71% of Americans support reforms to eliminate the "marriage penalty" in Social Security, with divorced individuals (75%) being the most likely to do so.

• 37% of Americans don't feel confident in their ability to retire comfortably, with Gen X being the most financially anxious (42% don't feel prepared).

Should Social Security benefits be the same for everyone?

Social Security benefits provide monthly income to retirees, people with disabilities, and surviving family members after a worker's death. Many Americans question whether these benefits should be tied to marital status or distributed equally among all recipients. While some see the system as fair, others believe it favors married individuals over singles.

Marriage can affect certain Social Security benefits, including survivor, child's, and divorced spouse benefits, which may be reduced or lost upon remarriage. However, retirement and disability benefits would remain unchanged.

A quarter of Americans said they considered Social Security benefits when deciding whether to get married. Many felt the system wasn't fair — only 24% believed they were getting a good deal from it. Baby boomers were the most satisfied with their benefits (28%), while Gen X was the least (21%).

Meanwhile, 68% of Americans think Social Security benefits should be the same for everyone, regardless of marital status. Support was highest among single individuals (74%) and Gen Z (72%), while baby boomers (61%) were the least likely to agree.

Marriage and Supplemental Security Income

Unlike Social Security, Supplemental Security Income is a needs-based program that provides financial assistance to low-income individuals who are 65 or older, blind, or have disabilities. Eligibility and benefit amounts depend on income and assets, which is why marital status can have a significant impact.

One major concern is the "marriage penalty," which reduces SSI benefits for couples by counting their combined income and assets. Married recipients often receive less than they would as individuals, making marriage a financial disadvantage for some. This issue has led some people to delay or even avoid marriage altogether.

Over half of Americans (58%) believed marriage penalties in government benefits discouraged marriage. Divorced individuals (68%) were the most likely to think so — and they were right when it came to SSI.

More than 1 in 4 Americans (28%) receiving SSI benefits have avoided marriage because of its potential impact on their payments, including 41% of divorced individuals. This was especially common among Gen Z (52%). Gen X (14%) was the least likely to factor SSI benefits into their marriage decisions.

Given these challenges, 71% of Americans supported eliminating the SSI marriage penalty, with divorced individuals (75%) being the strongest advocates for change.

Retirement worries

Many Americans are uncertain about their financial future, especially when it comes to retirement. While most prioritize love and companionship in marriage, many also consider how marriage affects their long-term financial stability. Concerns about Social Security's future have also led many to plan for alternative ways to fund their retirement.

Nearly half of Americans (48%) believed financial security and love should be equally important when considering marriage, while 46% prioritized love alone. Only 5% saw financial security as the top factor.

When it came to retirement confidence, 37% of Americans did not feel confident about their ability to retire. Across generations, a nearly even mix of individuals did feel secure — 29% of Gen Z, 28% of millennials, and 27% of baby boomers believed they could retire comfortably.

Gen X was notably less confident (20%) and more financially anxious than other generations, with 42% feeling unprepared and 29% experiencing high stress over retirement savings. Gen Z was the least stressed about their financial future (22%).

If Social Security falls short, Americans plan to adjust in different ways based on marital status. Divorced individuals were the most likely to continue working part-time in retirement (60%), downsize their housing or cut living expenses (47%), or increase their savings through 401(k) plans, IRAs, or other investments (37%).

Married individuals focused more on building retirement savings (58%), but many also planned to work part-time (54%) or downsize their living situation (44%). Single Americans took a similar approach, with 56% increasing savings, 52% expecting to work part-time, and 44% planning to delay retirement. While concerns about Social Security vary, only 1 in 10 married Americans said benefit rules had caused tension in their marriage.

How Social Security rules influence marriage decisions

Social Security plays a significant role in both financial planning and personal decisions, with many Americans questioning its fairness and long-term stability. Concerns about marriage penalties, retirement security, and benefit disparities have led to strong support for reforms. As debates continue, the future of Social Security will depend on balancing financial sustainability with policies that work for all Americans, regardless of marital status.

Methodology

We surveyed 1,006 Americans to examine how marital status influences financial security and perceptions of fairness in the Social Security system. The respondents' marital status was as follows: 63% married, 24% single, and 13% divorced. Generationally, the breakdown included 8% Gen Z, 32% millennials, 39% Gen X, and 22% baby boomers. The survey was conducted in February 2025.

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