How Marital Status Affects Government Assistance Eligibility

Getting married or divorced generally has an impact on your income and eligibility for government aid.

If you receive state or federal low-income assistance, such as Medicaid, food stamps, welfare, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF), or HUD subsidized housing, changes in your marital status may impact your eligibility. Although additional variables other than income are occasionally considered, these programs are normally offered to people and families who are either below the federal poverty line or a set percentage over it.

For example, if you return to single status after being married (due to an annulment, divorce, or the death of a spouse), your income may fall and you may be eligible for programs that you were not previously qualified for. If you marry and your spouse has a greater income, you may be ruled ineligible for a program that you previously qualified for. Consider that these calculations normally take the number of persons in your home into consideration, with the income threshold rising with each person in the household, so the extra person in your household may offset the higher income. It should be noted that for certain programs, marital status is less important than the number of individuals in the family, and the term “household” is defined differently among programs.

Other considerations, such as the amount of money you have on hand, may also come into play. In any event, be aware that changes in the number of individuals deemed to be part of your household may affect your eligibility for these programs, and it is important to consult with your social worker or case manager to learn about the consequences of any changes that may be on the horizon.