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. David E.

    my girlfriend and I are both collecting Social Security and pas the age of full retirement. If we marry, will she qualify for spousal benefits from me?

    • Luis A.

      Hi David. Your future spouse may be eligible to receive spouses’ benefits, if she meet certain requirements. Please remember that we will always pay her on her own benefits first. If she is eligible to receive benefits as a spouse, she will receive a combination of benefits that will equal the amount she could receive as a spouse. For more information about spouse’s benefits, visit our our Retirement Benefits Planner, Benefits For You As A Spouse. You may also call our toll-free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), from Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.

  2. Rhonda H.

    If you are forced into SSDI at 60, can you get half of your spouses benefit if higher ?

    • Luis A.

      Hi Rhonda. Thank you for your question. If you are applying for Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefits, at age 60, you will receive benefits under your earnings record only. To be able to receive benefits under your spouse’s earnings record, both, you and your spouse, have to be at least 62 years old. Please visit our Retirement Planner: Benefits For You As A Spouse for more information on receiving benefits as a spouse. For specific questions, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.

  3. Rachel

    I wanna know if getting married for the first time will affect my ssi benefits. My income, Medicare and Medicaid

    • Luis A.

      Hi Rachel. If you get married, the marriage may affects your benefits. However, we do not have access to your personal information on this forum. For specific questions about your account, please call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 AM and 7:00 PM.day, or later in the day. We also have a publication that has information about how marriage effects benefits. We hope this helps.

  4. Candy L.

    I am seventy and have been divorced over 20 years.. I collect part of my ex-husbands SS.. I am planning to remarry to someone who is also 70.. his SS is higher than my ex-husbands. . am I able to collect on his SS or how does that work.. do I still have to collect on my ex-husbands and see I am receiving part of his what will I receive when I remarry???

    • Luis A.

      Hi Candy. Thank you for your question. If your current benefits, your own and as a spouse, are lower than what you could receive under your new spouse, it may be possible that you could apply for those benefits, after you get married. For more information on spouses benefits, please visit our Retirement Benefits Planner; Benefits For You As A Spouse. For specific questions, please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. We hope this helps.

  5. Debbie B.

    Yes Hi, I’m am getting Social Security from my late husband and I got re -married he is retired now and getting his Social Security , I heard that I could draw $100 from my new husband’s Social Security , but have to wait for 9 months Its been a little over 9 Months now , what do I do to Start this Possess?

    • Luis A.

      Hi Debbie. Please note that we do not have access to your Social Security record in this forum. Please call us at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) for assistance with your case. We hope this helps.

  6. Gail j.

    I didn’t take my deceased spouse’s social security benefits because I lost my job of many years and needed to apply for early retirement as for myself. My early benefits are barely helping me. Can I still apply for my deceased husband ss benefits now under the new rules. What can I do.

    • Luis A.

      Hi Gail. We are sorry for your loss. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to your personal information in this forum. For specific questions about your account, please call our toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778), from Monday through Friday, between 7:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m. You may also contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.

  7. Karen T.

    I’m quite upset and was misinformed by Social Security administration office on Jerome ave,Mesa AZ. This was a gross error and horrible mistake which affected my future happiness in having a binding committed legal relationship regarding marriage policies. I’m a women, 65 years old, collecting my ex spouses Social Security in 2017, he died abruptly in a car accident in 2017 I was 63 years of age. I was told I can collect 80% of his social security, additionally was told I can never get married or co-habituate while collecting my deceased ex-husbands social security. I’m not understanding how this information they gave me was so wrong and since 2017 I thought I could never get remarried.This affected my happiness and future for a binding love relationship I’m furious, needed to let you know that this should never happen to someone else. I’m in love now really want to marry this man in the near future,now .

  8. Paula S.

    I am 70 years old and my husband is 72. We recently married in Sept and were wondering if our Social Security benefit we receive monthly will change.

    • Ann C.

      Hi, Paula. Congratulations on your marriage! If you receive retirement or Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, your marriage will not affect your benefit. If you are receiving SSI, widow or widower’s benefits, your marriage may affect your benefit. To learn more about how marriage affects benefits, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this helps.

  9. Rhonda A.

    how long do you have to be married to a person to receive their social security after their death.

    • Luis A.

      Hi Rhonda. Thank you for your question. To be eligible to apply for survivors benefits, you have to be 60 years old (or be 50 years old or older and disabled), and a current spouse must have been married for at least 9 months, or 10 years, if the you are a surviving divorced spouse. For more information about survivors benefits, check out our Benefits Planner: Survivors | If You Are The Survivor on the internet. We hope this helps.

  10. annette w.

    my husband and i have been married for ten years, as of 11/07/19. am i entitled to any benefits?

    • Luis A.

      Hi Annette. Please note that for your security, we do not have access to your Social Security record in this forum. Please call our toll-free number 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) for assistance with your question. We hope this helps.

Comments are closed.