Question on reporting marriage to Social Security office

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jb90304

Registered Users (C)
Hi, I recently got married to a US citizen. She needs to report her marriage status to the SS office but I'm not sure how this is going to work because I don't have a SS# bc of my current status. We also want to change her last name while we are at it, please tell me how I can resolve this problem of having no SS#. Thank you.
 
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She only needs her marriage certificate to get a new Social Security card in the married name if that is what she wants to do, otherwise, SSA doesn't care about her marital status until she applies for a benefit when she retires or becomes disabled. SSA does not care about you in any other circumstance regarding her SS records.

If you have no legal status in the U.S. and want to be included in a joint income tax return, apply for an ITIN from IRS.
 
It is more difficult for us because she actually receives disability benefits so they will look into the marital status. So if she reports them of her newly marriage, then I'm saying wouldn't they want my SS#? I'm not sure what I would do in that case.
 
Marriage will not affect SSDI (Social Security) disability but may affect SSI (Supplemental Security). SSDI is based on work and SSI is a means tested welfare program.

If she is on SSI, she must report all household income - even any earned illegally by a spouse. You both need to consult an attorney as fraud on SSI will have long term consequences.
 
We of course want to report her of the newly married status so they can adjust her SSI if necessary, but I'm just not sure how we can do that if I don't have a SS#
 
She has an SSN and is receiving benefits based on her SSN. They don't need your SSN to adjust her benefits to reflect her marital status. They just need to know that she is married, and maybe what your income is. Go to an SS office with the marriage certificate and sort it out.
 
jb90304 said:
We of course want to report her of the newly married status so they can adjust her SSI if necessary, but I'm just not sure how we can do that if I don't have a SS#
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Do you have an ITIN number? What is your current status? Will you be filing for LPR based on your marriage? If so, you may want to seek assistance from a social service agency to make sure it is handled properly the first time and that she remains qualified for the maximum possible benefits.
 
After going in to the SS office and telling them about not having a SS# and not being eligible, do they have the right to report the illegal status if they suspect it with a good reason?
Also, no, I don't have an ITIN #, I'm unemployed at the moment.
And Yes, I will be filing for LPR based on the marriage. We actually don't care too much about whether she continues to receive SSI benefits or not as money is not an issue for us, but we only want to make sure that she reports her newly marriage status as she is supposed to regarding benefits, so that this doesn't get in our way in any way during the GC process (whether during paperwork or interview)
 
jb90304 said:
After going in to the SS office and telling them about not having a SS# and not being eligible, do they have the right to report the illegal status if they suspect it with a good reason?
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I don't think they can or will do that. And they won't know you're here illegally unless you tell them. Lack of SSN doesn't mean illegal. There are numerous types of legal status that don't require SSN. If they get nosy and ask why you don't have an SSN, just say you recently got married and you don't have one yet.

But if that's what you're worried about, file the I-130 and I-485 and associated papers before going to the SS office. Once you've properly filed the I-485, you're legal until and unless they deny it. I hope you didn't enter the US with the visa waiver program, as that is likely to result in denial.
 
Since you are very concerned about doing the proper thing, I suggest that you and she would fell better about the situation after a consultation with an immigration specialist at a social service agency (since money is likely a concern at this time).

Since she is disabled and you are not employed, it is essential that she not lose her health care benefits. Please be sure to develop a complete plan for your filings and follow it.
 
thanks for all the replies but i don't want to make my question complicated.
so i think it'd be better if i put it this way - for the typical immigrants without status, how do they report their marriage to the SS office w/o SS# before submitting for GC based on marriage?
 
Simple answer : typical immigrants don't report marriage to the SSA.

You don't need to report your marriage to Social Security. Only she needs to report it, because she is receiving benefits which may be altered due to marriage. They don't need your SSN to record the fact that she is married.
 
Someone might want to begin using husband's surname rather than her maiden name; thus, she would need to request a new SS card.
 
Name changes need to be reported to the SSA, but that's not the same as reporting the marriage. Name change can occur without marriage, and vice versa. Marriage might be the reason for a name change, but the need to report it is because of the name change, not because of the marriage (unless the indvidual is receiving benefits that may need to be changed because of marriage).

Also, it is the person receiving benefits or whose name has changed who needs to do the reporting, not the other spouse who isn't getting benefits and isn't changing name.
 
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