To secure the rights and dignity of marriage for Disabled Adult Children, and for other purposes.
Sponsors
Legislative Progress
IntroducedMr. Panetta (for himself, Ms. Lofgren, Ms. Norton, Mr. Garcia …
Summary
What This Bill Does
The Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act eliminates the marriage penalty that currently prevents disabled adult children from marrying without losing their Social Security, SSI, Medicare, and Medicaid benefits. Currently, if a disabled adult child who receives benefits under their parent'''s work record gets married, they can lose all their benefits and healthcare coverage.
Who Benefits and How
Disabled adult children who receive Social Security benefits based on a parent'''s work record benefit significantly. Under current law, these individuals (who became disabled before age 22) lose their benefits if they marry. This bill allows them to marry without losing their child'''s insurance benefits under Section 202(d), continue receiving SSI benefits without their spouse'''s income being counted against them, and retain Medicaid coverage even after marriage.
Who Bears the Burden and How
The federal government will bear increased costs through the Social Security Administration, Medicare, and Medicaid programs as more married disabled adults retain their benefits. State Medicaid agencies must continue providing coverage to married disabled adult children under the same terms as unmarried individuals. Taxpayers indirectly bear these costs through increased federal spending on disability and healthcare programs.
Key Provisions
- Removes the requirement that disabled adult children remain unmarried to receive Social Security child'''s insurance benefits (amends Section 202(d) of the Social Security Act)
- Updates SSI rules so that being married doesn'''t affect benefit eligibility (modifies Section 1614(d))
- Prevents spouse'''s income and resources from being counted when determining a disabled adult child'''s SSI eligibility (adds exception to Section 1614(f))
- Requires states to continue Medicaid coverage for married disabled adult children who would qualify if unmarried (amends Section 1634)
- Updates outdated husband and wife language throughout Title XVI to use gender-neutral married individuals and spouse terminology
Evidence Chain:
This summary is derived from the structured analysis below. See "Detailed Analysis" for per-title beneficiaries/burden bearers with clause-level evidence links.
Primary Purpose
To secure the rights and dignity of marriage for disabled adult children by eliminating marriage restrictions, modifying rules to determine marital relationships, adjusting income and resource deeming rules, retaining Medicaid benefits, and expressing Congress's sense regarding Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security benefits.
Policy Domains
Bill Structure & Actor Mappings
Who is "The Secretary" in each section?
Key Definitions
Terms defined in this bill
The Marriage Equality for Disabled Adults Act.
A section of the Social Security Act related to disability benefits for children.
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