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—
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- If you remarry before age 50 — you won’t be entitled to survivor’s or disability benefits unless you divorce.
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- 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.
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- 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.
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Tags: Children, social security, Social Security benefits, Social Security card, SSA, supplemental security income, survivors benefits
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Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
Jim Borland, Acting Deputy Commissioner for Communications
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Trisha Z.
We are thinking about getting Married. He is collecting SSI age 68, and I am 55 still working full time. Will his SSI benefits be affected with the addition of my income to the household?
Maria P.
I was married for 30 years and now I am receiving spousal benefits under my ex social security. I am 65 years old and planning to re marry. Can I continue to receive the benefit or do I have to apply to the same benefit under my new husband?
Vonda
Hi Maria, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page for details on how marriage may affect Social Security benefits. We hope this helps!
John W.
I wish to commend Ms. Brantley (Forest Ms. branch) for her informed and courteous response. She was very pleasant to talk with even though I did not get my desired response.
John J.
If I was married for 10+ years to my prior (now deceased) husband, and then I remarried at age 55 and was married for 8.5 years, before I divorced him at age 63, will I NOW be able to go back and claim a survivor benefit on my first deceased husband? From what I am reading, because I was remarried prior to 60 and the marriage lasted less than 10 years, I would be!
Thanks!
Vonda V.
Hi John, thanks for the question. As long as you are currently unmarried, you may be eligible for surviving divorced spouse’s benefits. To inquire on eligibility and to file, you can 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.
John
Thank you!!
Bill
Hi Vonda,
your answer to John states “may be eligible”. Besides being “currently unmarried”, what are the other factors that could make John ineligible?
Bill
Vonda
Hi Bill, thanks for using our blog. Check out our Surviving Divorced Spouse web page for eligibility details. We hope this helps!
Rose C.
I am 66 year old divorced (2015) disabled female. I receive SSI from my divorced of 38 (married) years if I remarry do I lose my SSI $1,029.00 per month?
Thank you for your attention to this matter.
Neat
Neat on October 31, 2020 at 4:44 pm said:
If a person an adult receive SSI from a parent, for a disability send childhood. And at the age of 46 or 50. He/she want to get marry will their SSI be cut off.
Neat
If a person an adult receive SSI from a parent, for a disability and at the age of 46 or 50 . Will he/she get cut off.
Vonda V.
Hi there, thanks for using our blog. An adult disabled before age 22 may be eligible for child’s benefits if a parent is deceased or starts receiving retirement or disability benefits. We consider this a “child’s” benefit because it is paid on a parent’s Social Security earnings record.
The “adult child”—including an adopted child, or, in some cases, a stepchild, grandchild, or step grandchild—must be unmarried, age 18 or older, have a disability that started before age 22, and meet the definition of disability for adults.
Check out our web page Benefits for a Disabled Child for more details.
AlmaJaneRippel
I,m planning on marry a military man a General in fact he well be retired also I,m 91 can I collect off of my new husbands he sad his monthy salary was $33,,000.00 I now receive 1784,00 from my divorced husband I was married to him for 29 years
Vonda V.
Hi Alma, 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.
To inquire on potential higher benefits, you can 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.
Sabrna L.
I have been divorced for some time, but I still have my married last name on my card. I have a divorce decree giving me my maiden name. How do I get my card to reflect my maiden name?
Vonda V.
Hi Sabrna, thank you for using our blog. Check out our Frequently Asked Questions web page on how to change your name. If you do not want to mail in your documents, which will be returned, you may need to wait for the offices to reopen. Use our Social Security Office Locator to find your local office address. We hope this helps.
Roy J.
Been married before now divorced on SSI disability wanting to get married again she’s. On SSI disability will it effect our benefits
Vonda V.
Hi Roy, 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!
Bertha W.
I’m thinking of remarrying I’m 75 years old I’m a widow collecting social security on my disease husband benefits. Will I lose any of my benefits as a widow?
and Medicare also. I would like to keep my present last name.as not to affect my benefits.