General, SSI

Will Remarrying Affect My Social Security Benefits?

September 5, 2017 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: October 14, 2021

married couple hugging Whether it’s a morning ceremony or an evening gala, excitement’s in the air. You’re getting remarried! Social Security is with you throughout life’s journey and we are here to help you on any Social Security related questions, after your special day!

If you’re getting remarried, you may have some questions about changing the name on your Social Security card. Also, if you’re remarrying, you may wonder how that affects your Social Security benefits.

Remarrying may affect your benefits if you receive any of the following benefits:

  1. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments — your SSI payment amount may change as a result of your new spouse’s income and resources. If you and your spouse both get SSI, your payment amount will change from an individual rate to a couple’s rate.
  1. Widow/widower, or divorced widow/widower payments—
    • If you remarry before age 50 — you won’t be entitled to survivor’s or disability benefits unless you divorce.
    • If you remarry between the ages of 50 and 59 — you can’t get benefits. Note: If you remarry before you turn 60 and that marriage ends, you may become entitled or re-entitled to benefits on your prior deceased spouse’s earnings record. Your benefits begin the first month in which the subsequent marriage ended if all entitlement requirements are met.
    • If you remarry after age 60 — you may still become entitled to benefits on your prior deceased spouse’s Social Security earnings record.
  1. Divorced spouse’s benefits — Generally, if you remarry, benefits paid to you from your prior spouse’s account stop. Check out if you are divorced for more information.
  1. Children’s benefits (under age 18 or student ages 18 or 19) — Children’s benefits end once the child marries. You can find more information in our Benefits for Children page.

Visit our Benefits page for more information. Please share this information with family and friends – and post it on social media.

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About the Author

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications

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Comments

  1. Ira G.

    As spouse (housewife)do I need to be US citizen to receive my husbands Ss after his passing?

  2. Skip

    Me and the wife now was married for 27 yrs got a divorce and remarried each other again would we be entitled to each other’s social security if something happened to one of us .

    • Ray F.

      It appears that you and your wife meet the eligibility requirements needed for spouse’s benefit. According to current policy, a spouse must meet a 1 year duration-of-marriage requirement. Generally, a surviving spouse or widow meets this requirement, if the marriage took place no later than 9 months immediately preceding the day on which the worker died. To learn more, visit our Survivors Planner: Survivors Benefits For Your Widow Or Widower. If you have specific questions about your situation, please call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. Thanks!

  3. Ann

    , I am retired on my own work history, I would like to sell my home. I am 63 and I would like to know how it would affect my benefits ,being that I have not reached full retirement age

  4. Matt

    hi I”m Matt. I would like to know if i get married and she works would that change anything for my benefits .Also is there a way I can get more money a month through a additional program,because I get disability now but its not a lot ?Also what would happen if I claim my step child ?

    • Ray F.

      Good question Matt. For the person receiving Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, marriage does not affect his or her benefit. These benefits are based on earnings and are not subject to income and resource limits. Also, under this program, your eligible children may also qualify to receive benefits on your record. In the other hand, for the person receiving Supplemental Security Income (SSI), getting married may affect his or her benefit. This is because the amount of the SSI benefit is based, in part, on the income available to him or her and the spouse. See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits?” for more information.

  5. Gail

    I get my late husbands SSI plus mine , I want to get married but I don’t want to take my new husbands last name. What I would like to know would any of the SSI change money wise

  6. Gail

    I get my deceised husbands SSI Iam 73 now what I would like to know if I remarry but I don’t take my new husbands name would their be a change in my income from my exciting husban

    • Ray F.

      Thank you for your question Gail. Widows that remarry after age 60 (age 50 if disabled), may continue to qualify for benefits on their deceased spouse’s Social Security record. If your new spouse is a Social Security beneficiary, you may want to apply for spouse’s benefits on that record. If that amount is higher, you may be entitled to the higher amount, based on both records. Generally, you must be married for one year before you can get spouse’s benefits. Please visit our Frequently Asked Questions web page to see how marriage can affect Social Security benefits. We hope this helps!

  7. Frances B.

    My husband passed away in 1996. I was awarded a widow’s pension at that time of 60% of his pension because I was not 65 years old. I am now 83 years old and have been receiving $1177.00 a month for nearly 5 years. Have I not passed the penalty age and could I get 100 percent of his pension at this time. I also have paid into Social Security but have not been permitted to collect that amount either.
    I wonder who is getting the money I am not.
    Please advise. Thank you

    • Ray F.

      Hi Frances. If a person begins to receive benefits prior to their full retirement age, their benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits the person may qualify for. Generally, survivor’s benefits are paid at a higher rate. Sometimes, a person could be entitled to more than one benefit at the same time and may receive a combination of benefits equaling a higher amount. For example, a person may be entitled as a retired worker on his/her own record and also as a spouse or widow on another record. However, this individual’s benefit amount can never exceed the highest of either benefit amount to which they are entitled to. To see if you qualify for a higher benefit than what you are currently receiving, contact your local office or you may call our toll free telephone number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask a representative to assist you. Thanks!

  8. Diane

    Hi I get a disability check from SSA and my husband gets his VA Retirement and VA disability will I get some of his retirement and at what age?

    • Ray F.

      Thank you for your question Diane. In your case, you may be able to get spouse’s retirement benefits if and when your spouse starts receiving Social Security retirement or disability benefits. However, keep in mind that if you qualify for benefits on your own record and for benefits as a spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. See our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information.

  9. Mark

    My name is Mark ! and i live in Sacramento california and the cost of living is very high i collect disability benefits every month ! My question is can i get reimbursed for my medical costs and travel costs associated with my initial disability event ?i was approved in 2003 Also ! May i Apply for and receive my SSI benefits before i reach retirement age ? I feel that would be far and very helpful ! send a private reply to my submitted email adrees ok ? Thank you ! Mark !

    • Ray F.

      Hi Mark. Since we do not have access to personal information, we do not do direct messaging in this venue. We ask that our followers contact their local office or call our toll-free number at 1-800-772-1213 with questions about their specific case. Telephone representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Generally, you will have a shorter wait time if you call later during the day or later in the week. Also, we pay disability benefits under the Supplemental Security Income or SSI program. SSI is a needs-based program that pays benefits to disabled individuals based on financial need. Generally, when you apply for disability benefits, we take applications for both programs. Our agents will be able to provide a thorough explanation. Thank you.

  10. Sharon W.

    I collect social security from my own earnings, will this be affected if I get married again? He is also on social security from his earnings.

    • Ray F.

      Thanks for your question, Sharon. If you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits on your own record and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. For information on how marriage effects benefits, please visit our “Frequently Asked Questions” page. Also, if your new spouse is a Social Security beneficiary, you may become eligible for spouse’s benefits on his/her record after one year of marriage. See our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information.

      • Vanessa M.

        I recieved a higher amount than the money my fiance gets is he entitled to part of my check and how much would I loose. I also get job retirement money he does not.

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