Will Remarrying Affect My Social Security Benefits?
Reading Time: 3 MinutesLast Updated: January 29, 2025
Whether it’s a morning ceremony or an evening gala, excitement is in the air. You’re getting remarried! We can help you with Social Security-related questions regarding your remarriage.
You may be wondering about changing your name on your Social Security card. Visit our Change name with Social Security page and answer a few questions to find out the best way to apply for a replacement card with your new last name. You may even be able to complete the application completely online.
If you can’t complete the application online, you can start your replacement card application online, then visit a local Social Security office or card center. You may be able to self-schedule an appointment online to visit an office to show your original marriage certificate and complete your application.
We’ll mail an updated card to you, usually within 14 business days. Remember to let your employer know about your name change so they can update payroll records, and we can accurately keep track of your earnings.
You may be wondering how your new marriage affects your Social Security benefits now or in the future. Remarrying may affect your benefits if you receive (or expect to receive) any of the following:
- Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments – Your SSI eligibility and payment amount may change (or stop) due to your new spouse’s income and resources. If you and your spouse both get SSI, your payment amount may change from a single person’s rate to a couple’s rate. Be sure to call us right away at 1-800-772-1213 to report your marriage to avoid being overpaid.
- Surviving spouse or divorced surviving spouse benefits –
- If you remarry before age 50 – You won’t be eligible for survivors or disability benefits as a surviving spouse unless your later marriage ends by divorce or annulment.
- If you remarry between the ages of 50 and 59 – You may be able to get benefits as a disabled surviving spouse (or disabled surviving divorced spouse) if you were disabled and unable to work when you remarried and your remarriage occurred after age 50. If you remarry before you reach age 60 and that marriage ends, you may be able to get benefits on your previous deceased spouse’s record. Your benefits may begin the first month in which the later marriage ended if all entitlement requirements are met. Contact us if you have questions.
- If you remarry after age 60 – You may be eligible for survivors benefits on your deceased spouse’s record or benefits on your new spouse’s record. Contact us to find out where you are due the greatest benefit amount.
For more information, read our Survivors Benefits publication or visit our Survivor benefits page.
- Divorced spouse’s benefits – Generally, if you remarry, benefits paid to you on your former spouse’s record stop. You should report your new marriage to us to avoid being overpaid.
- Children’s benefits (under age 18 or full-time student ages 18 or 19) – Under certain circumstances, we may be able to make payments to stepchildren of a worker who receives retirement or disability benefits. For more information about benefits for children, visit our Who can get Family benefits page. Contact us if you have questions.
Note: If you receive Disabled Adult Child (DAC) benefits on the record of a retired, disabled, or deceased parent, your benefits will likely end if you get married. There are exceptions, such as marriage to another DAC, when the benefits are allowed to continue. Our rules vary depending on the situation. For more information, visit our Disability Planner or contact us.
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Frank.M
Hi, I plan on retiring at 65 and my Fiancé is going to be 67 and we both want to retire and get married. she will probably retire 6 months sooner. we are both divorce and we both married longer than 10 years pervious to first marriage partners. I was married a second time but that was only 5 years. She can get SS benefit from her first husband at retirement as he made more money than her. when I retire and when we get married will she be able to keep collecting on his No1 husbands SS befit.? as we will not have been married long for the 10-year rule to collect on mine. and i believe he still made more than me. or will she have to take less and go off her SS.?
If she can’t keep his SS benefit from husband 1., she may not marry me.
S.S.
Hi, Frank. Thanks for reading our blog and for your questions. To be eligible for divorced spouse benefits, you had to be married to your former spouse at least 10 years, be currently unmarried, and not eligible for a higher benefit on your own record. You could still be eligible for surviving spouse benefits if you remarried after you reached 60. For more information, visit our Survivors Planner. To learn more about your eligibility and options, you can call us at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday, between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., or contact your local Social Security office. We hope this helps.
nick c.
my friend is 73 and i am 71, she was married for over 40 years, he had a great job and made alot of money. he passed away about 8 years and she get his ss money.
now i would like to get married and she keep saying that she will lose her husband ss money if she get married
T.Y.
Thank you for reading our blog, Nick. Surviving spouses who remarry after age 60 (age 50 with a disability), may continue to be eligible for benefits on their deceased spouse’s Social Security record. For more information, visit our Frequently Asked Questions. We hope this information helps.
Kelly L.
Can you please interpret/clarify specifically the age 60(50 if you were disabled and unable to work when you remarried) rule, if I was pending disability approval at the time and approved for that disability within 2 months. Would this be an exception to the rule or would ssa consider the remarriage/approved disability within that same year, month, day, etc. Thank you so much.
Rebecca M.
I am 68 receiving Social security. My fiance will retire at 62, and we want to get married. Will my social security be affected? Can we file taxes separately?
C.B.
Hi, Rebecca. Good question. For a person receiving Social Security retirement benefits, marriage does not affect their benefit. For more information about how marriage may affect your benefits, please read our Frequently Asked Questions for more information. In regards to your taxes, you will need to speak to your accountant or the IRS to discuss what’s best for you. Thanks for using our blog.
Bonnie
If a couple decides they want to marry and one is on SS AND SSI and the other is just on regular disability, if they were to marry would if affect their income and insurance?
C.B.
Hi, Bonnie. Thanks for your question. If you receive retirement or Social Security disability insurance (SSDI) benefits, your marriage will not affect your benefit. If you are receiving Supplemental Security Income (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.