4 social security benefits that may be affected when you remarry
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Getting married again brings excitement – and decisions. This is especially true when it comes to Social benefits.
Vise versa: Economic benefits of getting married again
More: The woman’s guide to collecting social security
According to a blog on SSA’s Social Security Matters website, remarriage can affect your benefits in terms of the following:
1. Supplementary Security Income (SSI) payments
The size of your SSI payment may change as a result of your new spouse’s income and resources. If you and your spouse both receive SSI, your payment amount will change from an individual rate to a pair rate.
Payments for widow / widower or divorced widow / widower
Your age plays a big role in this aspect of your social security benefits. If you remarry before the age of 50, you are not entitled to it survivors or disability benefits unless you get divorced. If you remarry between 50 and 59, you will not be able to receive unemployment benefits unless the marriage ends. In this case, you may be eligible or re-eligible for benefits on your previously deceased spouse’s earnings. Your benefits begin in the first month in which the subsequent marriage ended, if all eligibility requirements are met. If you remarry after age 60, you may still be eligible for benefits on your previously deceased spouse’s Social Security earnings statement.
3. Divorced spouse benefits
If you remarry, as a general rule, you will no longer receive benefits paid to you from your former spouse’s account. However, your ex-spouse may still receive your benefits if certain qualifications are met, including that the marriage lasted 10 years or longer; your ex-spouse is unmarried; and your ex-spouse is 62 years of age or older.
4. Child benefits (under 18 years or students aged 18 or 19)
Child benefits cease when a child marries. This is the case whether you remarry or not.
For more information, visit SSA’s distribute page.
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