Social Security Benefits When You’ve Married More Than Once (2024)

FAQs

Social Security Benefits When You’ve Married More Than Once? ›

If you've been married multiple times, your current and former spouses could be eligible for Social Security benefits based on your earnings record, subject to certain requirements.

If you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. However, other benefits such as SSI, Survivors, Divorced Spouses, and Child's benefits may be affected.

Remarrying after turning 60 (50 if disabled) has no effect on survivor benefits. But if you wed before reaching that age, you lose eligibility for survivor benefits on the prior marriage.

Even though the basic rules apply to everyone, a couple has more options than a single person because each member of a couple¹ can claim at different dates and may be eligible for spousal benefits. Making the most of Social Security requires some strategy to take advantage of the basic benefit rules, however.

Your ex cannot “block” you from drawing your spousal benefit. In fact, he probably won't even know if you are drawing off him unless he calls SSA to ask. He doesn't have to give your permission and you don't need his input in any way.

If you remarry before age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability), you cannot receive benefits as a surviving spouse while you are married. If you remarry after age 60 (age 50 if you have a disability), you will continue to be eligible for benefits on your deceased spouse's Social Security record.

Can I claim benefits on either one's record? Yes, you can. Notify the Social Security Administration that you were married more than once and may qualify for benefits on more than one spouse's earnings record.

A widow(er) is eligible to receive benefits if she or he is at least age 60. If a widow(er) remarries before age 60, she or he forfeits the benefit and, therefore, faces a marriage penalty. Under current law, there is no penalty if the remarriage occurs at 60 years of age or later.

For example, if you were to get married for a second time without a will, trust, nor prenuptial agreement, your second wife would be entitled to 50% of your community property earned during your second marriage, while your children from your first marriage would also be entitled to 50% after your death.

(1) Your relationship to the insured as a wife or husband lasted for at least 9 months immediately before the insured died. (2) Your relationship to the insured as a wife or husband did not last 9 months before the insured died, but you meet one of the conditions in paragraphs (a)(2)(i) through (iv) of this section.

What is the 10 year rule for Social Security? ›

The number of credits you need to receive retirement benefits depends on when you were born. If you were born in 1929 or later, you need 40 credits (10 years of work). If you stop working before you have enough credits to be eligible for benefits, the credits will remain on your Social Security record.

Have you heard about the Social Security $16,728 yearly bonus? There's really no “bonus” that retirees can collect. The Social Security Administration (SSA) uses a specific formula based on your lifetime earnings to determine your benefit amount.

The Social Security five-year rule is the time period in which you can file for an expedited reinstatement after your Social Security disability benefits have been terminated completely due to work.

When a worker files for retirement benefits, the worker's spouse may be eligible for a benefit based on the worker's earnings. Another requirement is that the spouse must be at least age 62 or have a qualifying child in her/his care.

If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit.

The maximum spousal benefit you can receive is 50% of your spouse's benefit at their full retirement age. The precise amount you'll get and when you'll get it depends on several circ*mstances, including your spouse's age and past income, your age and past income, and more.

If you re-married and your second spouse is deceased, you qualify to claim benefits from either your first spouse if that marriage lasted at least 10 years, or your second spouse if you were married at least 9 months before they died.

If you have since remarried, you can't collect benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage ended by annulment, divorce, or death. Also, if you're entitled to benefits on your own record, your benefit amount must be less than you would receive based on your ex-spouse's work.

What will happen if I remarry? When a surviving spouse remarries, this will often prevent them from continuing to receive their late spouse's pension. This means that if you are collecting your deceased spouse's pension and you choose to remarry, you may lose the right to get your former spouse's pension.