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. John D.

    So just to be clear, if I marry a 71-year-old widower that is receiving benefits from her deceased husband, which is more than she received when he was living, she will continue to receive his benefit? I am 65

  2. Dan V.

    I divorced in 2001 after 10+ years of marriage. My ex-wife is collecting SSI and has now remarried. She is hiding the marriage and still using my last name. It is my understanding they go married in South Dakota where the info is not public. I believe she is doing so because her new husbands income would affect her SSI income. Am I able to draw on her account if I am not remarried at 62 and if she is committing fraud but don’t know for sure what can I do?

    • K.O.

      Hi Dan. Thanks for using our blog. As a divorced spouse, you can receive benefits based on your ex-spouse’s record if:
      • Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer.
      • You are unmarried.
      • You are 62 or older.
      • The benefit that you are entitled to receive based on your own work is less than the benefit you would receive based on your ex-spouse’s work.
      • Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits.

      If you qualify for your own benefits and for benefits as a divorced spouse, we always pay your own benefits first. If your benefits as a divorced spouse are higher than your own benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher divorced spouse benefit.

      See our Retirement Planner: If You’re Divorced for other eligibility requirements and more detailed information.

  3. Mary N.

    My name is mary i receive widows penison on my deceased husband if i remarry would i lose that i am 73

  4. Elaine C.

    I have a question. Will my disability diminish if I get married?

  5. Ana S.

    Good afternoon,
    I was wondering if I would qualify for SSC benefits from my first husband who died 22 years ago and whom I was married for 17 years. Since then, I have remarried and divorced twice. I’m 59 years old.
    Thanks,
    Ana

    • V.V.

      Hi Ana. If you are the divorced spouse of a worker who died and you are not married, you could get benefits just the same as a widow or widower. For more information, please visit our Surviving Divorced Spouse webpage.

      • Ana S.

        Thank you so much!

  6. Patty K.

    I was on SSI and when I turned 51 I went off my late husband social security if I was to remarry would I still get my social security

    • V.V.

      Hi Patty, thank you for the question. 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. JD

    I am 64year old I’m on disable and widower SSI if I remarry do I lose my widower SSI

  8. Brenda V.

    Good afternoon:

    I have a question. I am a divorced widow, he never collected SS benefits. We were married 16 years. He passed away in 2012 and I am recently thinking of remarrying but it is right before I turn 60. Is that going to affect me if I ever want to collect SS benefits at age 62.

    • V.V.

      Hi Brenda. Thanks for using our blog. If you are the divorced spouse of a worker who died and you are not married, you could get benefits just the same as a widow or widower. If you remarry after you reach age 60 (age 50 if disabled), the remarriage will not affect your eligibility for survivors benefits. For more information, please visit our Surviving Divorced Spouse webpage.

  9. Carol A.

    I’m 81 years young and receiving Social Security on my own work record. If I marry, will it effect my benefit?

    • V.V.

      Hi Carol, thanks for using our blog to ask your question. If you get Social Security disability or retirement benefits and you marry, your benefit will stay the same. See “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for more information. Thanks!

  10. Luluboyd

    Hi my name is Lulu Boyd is your a. Same people how trick people to get married in July 2020 and I’m 28 years old yes or no is your a same people on ssi

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