EMPSA

This bill, known as the "Eliminating the Marriage Penalty in SSI Act," seeks to amend Title XVI of the Social Security Act to address the financial disincentives for marriage among adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities who receive Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. Currently, SSI benefits can be reduced or terminated when an individual marries, as a spouse's income and resources are "deemed" to be available to the beneficiary. The legislation establishes a new category of eligible individuals: adults aged 18 or older with an intellectual or developmental disability who meet specific income and resource thresholds. For these individuals, the bill explicitly mandates that a spouse's income and resources shall not be deemed when determining their eligibility for SSI or the amount of their benefits. This change ensures that their SSI benefits are calculated based solely on their own income and resources, thereby eliminating the so-called "marriage penalty" for this vulnerable population.