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. Fix B.

    Nice article. Its realy nice. Many info help me. dont stop the super work!

    http://diceview.com/how-to-fix-a-broken-marriage/

  2. Nancy R.

    I understand that if married to a retired police officer receiving a pension a spouse’s social security is reduced by 75%. Is that true if I marry him after he retired and has been already drawing his pension? I would be his second wife.

    • Ray F.

      Hello Nancy. Generally, a pension based on work that is not covered by Social Security (for example, Federal civil service and some State or local government agencies) may cause the amount of your Social Security benefit to be reduced. Your Social Security benefits can be reduced based on one of two provisions.
      Your own Social Security benefit can be reduced based on the Windfall Elimination Provision.
      Your spouse’s benefits under Social Security may be affected by the Government Pension Offset. Generally, we won’t reduce your Social Security benefits as a spouse, if you receive a government pension that’s not based on your earnings.
      Please call our toll free number at 1-800-772-1213 if you need further assistance. Representatives are available Monday through Friday, between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Thanks!

  3. juliee

    ssa//ssi//ssdi what is the difference with the 3 of them i stay confused .. i ask the difference and it all sounds the same except…..if you get this and ssa and ssi they take money from one and dont give it to the other how can i live alone with 730.00 and if i live with some one they think that someone is helping me with food and money we are both in the same boat and it is sinking every day they take money from one and dont give anything to the other …wrong wrong wrong

  4. Betty M.

    If I’m collecting SS on my husbands work record and divorce……if I remarry can I collect from new husbands SS? I’m 74

    • Ray F.

      Hi Betty, if you remarry, you generally cannot collect benefits on your former spouse’s record unless your later marriage ends. Also, you generally must be married for one year before you can get spouse’s benefits on your new spouse’s record.

  5. Charlene L.

    is the couple rate more than an individuale rate?

  6. John W.

    I am 67 year old widower. My wife passed away two years ago at the age of 62 after 36 years of marriage. I am planning to marry this year with newly found love. Will my spousal benefit be affected by new marriage? Websites does not specifically answer for this except I am entitled to benefit of former spouse. I want to make sure whether the amount will be affected or not.

    Thank you

    • Charlene L.

      My ex husband and me recently got morried to each other again. He is still working full time and draws ssi. I am retired. I took an early retirement. I am currently 63. by us getting married again will this affect our ssi payments?

    • Ray F.

      Thank you for your question, John. Marriage after age 60 does not affect your benefits as a widower. Please visit our web page “If I get married, will it affect my benefits” for more information.

  7. Judith B.

    Can I draw off my ex spouse ssi if he is drawing his retirement and disability now he’s not 62he be 61in June and I will be 44 in March but we both disabled and we are devoiced but we still live together and have been since we devoiced

    • Ray F.

      Hello Judith, you may be able to receive benefits on your ex-spouse’s record if:
      • You were married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years;
      • You are unmarried;
      • You are age 62 or older;
      • Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits and,
      • The benefit 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.
      For more information, please visit our Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced. We hope this information helps!

  8. geraldine c.

    can i still get benefits from my marriage as a widow if i remarry? and do i get my partners insurance benefits if we marry?

  9. Michelle W.

    Hi. I am 51 years old & disabled. My husband passed 5 years ago & therefore I am collecting his survivor benefits as it was more than my disability. I have now met someone and we would like to marry & grow old (er) together. Will I lose my survivor benefits?

  10. Ghada k.

    Hi, I’m a female of 66 years young and collecting social security. Will remarrying effect my social security?

    Thanks
    Ghada

Comments are closed.