Will Remarrying Affect My Social Security Benefits?
Reading Time: 2 MinutesLast Updated: October 14, 2021
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:
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
- 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.
Did you find this Information helpful?
Tags: Children, social security, Social Security benefits, Social Security card, SSA, supplemental security income, survivors benefits
See CommentsAbout the Author
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Comments
Comments are closed.
Nancy C.
I was married 31 years to a doctor.
He made very good money.
I ran our businesses without much pay for 25 years.
We divorced when I turned 52.
He remarried our receptionist,
but I am still single for now but want to eventually remarry. Im very afraid i will get nothing.
What should i expect?
Vonda V.
Hi Nancy, thanks for using our blog. If you are divorced and unmarried, you may be able to receive benefits on your ex-spouse’s record if your marriage lasted 10 years or longer. Your benefit as a divorced spouse can be equal to one-half of your ex’s full retirement amount only if you start receiving those benefits at your full retirement age. If you begin to receive benefits at age 62 or prior to your full retirement age, your benefits are reduced. The reduction factors are permanently applied to all of the benefits you qualify for once you opt to start benefits at age 62 or at any time prior to your full retirement age.
Remember, if you qualify for your own retirement benefits and for benefits as a divorced spouse, we always pay your own retirement benefits first. If your benefits as a divorced spouse are higher than your own retirement 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.
Nancy C.
But what if i decide to get remarried? I was married to him for 31 years and he was in the Army reserves for 7 of our last years together.
Can he get remarried and keep all, but not me?
Vonda V.
Hi Nancy. If you are married, you may be eligible for spouse’s benefits on your new spouse’s record. Check out our Retirement Planner: Spouse’s Benefits for details.
Nancy C.
I never was paid much. poverty level for me only. He made all the money and i never cared because we were married and it didn’t seem to matter.
Nancy C.
N.C. Anderson
waiting for a response
I did give my name and email
Lil
I am 30 years old and i receive Supplemental security income and my boyfriend doesn’t have a job and isn’t on any assistance except food stamps and he’s 39 and we want to get married will my Supplemental security income be cut off or affected
Vonda V.
Hi Lil, thanks for using our blog. If you get Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and you marry, it could affect your benefits. If you marry, your spouse’s income and resources may change your SSI benefit or if you and your spouse both get SSI, your benefit amount will change from an individual rate to a couple’s rate. To report your marriage, you will need to call us at 1-800-772-1213 for assistance or you can contact your local Social Security office. Please look for the general inquiry telephone number at the Social Security Office Locator. The number may appear under Show Additional Office Information. Please be aware that our call wait times are longer than normal. We hope this information helps.
SHARON L.
If both people get SS Benefits if you get married will it effect what you receive from Social Security if you are both over 60.
Vonda V.
Hello Sharon, 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!
Teresa M.
If I get remarried will I loose my disability
Vonda V.
Hello Teresa, 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!
SHARON L.
What if one gets Widow SS benefits and the other is over 65 and divorced.
Teresa m.
Im
Kris B.
I am a widower of a U.S. citizen – my wife died at the age of 62 in 2008, she had been collecting an ssa disability benefit for approximately 8 years prior to her death. I am a Canadian citizen who was 52 at the time of my wife’s passing. At that time I was able to get a Social Security number, applied for and received the one time $255 death benefit. I have not re-married. I will be turning 66 in November of 2021 and understand that within the parameters of the ‘Totalization Agreement’ and ‘Windfall Elimination Provision’ that I will be entitled to receive an ssa retirement benefit from my deceased wife’s record (which will use calculations that account for my Canadian CPP pension amounts). I intend to wait until FRA (full retirement age) before making a claim. I have no work record in the US and am already receiving a reduced CPP (Canada Pension). Question #1: Is there are any SSA DRC (Delayed Retirement Credit) allowances for this situation or is the survivor’s benefit maximum at FRA with no incentive for me to wait to claim after November 2021? Question #2: I understand that I have a couple of options including making an application to an SSA office in Baltimore MD, when should I make this application if I would like to start receiving a benefit in December of 2021?
Vonda V.
Hi Kris, thanks for using our blog. Typically, a widow or widower at full (survivors) retirement age or older generally receives 100% of the deceased worker’s amount. Delayed retirement credits are applied to a retirement benefit when you delay collecting beyond your full retirement age.
Our system is set up to take applications four months in advance and when you’re ready to apply, you can use the Canadian Service Area Directory to determine which Resident Office is near you. We hope this helps!
scott o.
i am 69 and received Social Security and Medicare; I do not work, though I have some financial resources. My girlfriend is 59 and receives SSI and Medicaid…she does not work. How/when can we get married so that my income/resources do not impact her earnings, whether now or when she is older?
Thank you!
Vonda V.
Hi Scott, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for information on how marriage may affect benefits.
charley f.
I would like to get married again. I am 64 ands disable. My girlfriend is 62 and disabled. Would she lose here disability?
Vonda V.
Hello Charley, 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!
Kathleen K.
I am 68 and collecting my own SS benefits. If I marry a 73 yr old man who is also collecting his SS benefits, will it affect the monthly amount of SS we receive or will it stay the same?
Vonda V.
Hello Kathleen, 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!
Samantha
I am 33 if i remarry will i keep getting ssi
Vonda V.
Hi Samantha, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how marriage may affect benefits. We hope this helps!