conversation: User (lotrekkie): "So probably the most important part first, we are not legally married. We had the whole ceremony so we go by husband and wife but if we legally did it she would lose her disability.  She has tried working multiple times, it's a long story but suffice to say it's better for her health if she does not work full time.  As a result she gets the disability based upon her father's (who is retired and over 65) social security, which from what he tells me is SSDI she gets.\n\nSo that being said I'm actually starting to have the money where investing beyond my 401k employer match is a possibility, and since she gives me the VAST amount of her disability payment to me so manage for our household and provide for us I want to make sure I'm putting aside her fair portion of the money.  \n\nIdeally I would just split what money I can put into the IRA between us until we maxed out the full $5500 for both of us.  But I'm not entirely sure if she is eligible for that based on the SSDI. She did work for a few months in early 2017 so I know this year I can put away that much for her until at least April.  So that's my first question, can she qualify for the Roth IRA based upon the SSDI income? If she can't I will just invest the amount she made in 2017 into her IRA.  If that is the case and an IRA is no longer an option, what is the best place to put her money for savings?  Would it just be a CD? A Money Market? I think she can still buy treasury direct bonds, or am I imagining it?  Thank you for any help you can provide!!!!"
  Self: "To have an IRA, she would need earned income to qualify.  So her SSDI income would not qualify.  If you two were married however and filed jointly, she could make a spousal IRA contribution using your compensation and be entitled to contribute the same amount as you could.  However since you're not married that's not an option.\n\nAlso opening up any money market accounts, CD or anything else in her name will be considered assets and may push her past the threshold to qualify for SSDI.  If you're goal is to mitigate that, you will have to keep everything in your name.\n\nIn terms of savings as much as possible, keep increasing your 401K and IRA contributions.  Build up an emergency fund.  If your employer offers it, look into getting an HSA for further tax advantaged savings.  After that look into a taxable brokerage to increase your retirement/savings.\n\nAnother thing to consider is that you're the sole provider for your "wife."  As such you may want to look into some term life insurance.  Also because she isn't your legal wife and you're not putting assets in her name, you will want to setup a trust and name her the beneficiary.  That way in case you die your assets don't go through probate and then bypass your "no-legal wife" and instead go to your parents or sibling or other blood relatives first.  Also if you want to mitigate what assets get passed onto your wife after death so it doesn't cause her to lose her disability, consult with the lawyer to see if they structure the trust in a way to shield her this.\n\nAnother thing to consider however are your social security payments.  If you do die and she's not your spouse, she won't get those payments either so do the math."
  