I'm getting remarried. How will this affect my Social Security
benefits?
Answer:
If you're receiving
benefits based on your own work record, your benefits will continue. If you're
receiving spousal benefits based on your former spouse's work record, those
benefits will generally end upon your getting remarried, but you may be able to
receive benefits based on your new spouse's work record, or on your own.
If you're a widow(er)
under age 60, or you're disabled but under 50, remarriage ends any benefits
based on the record of your deceased spouse. However, if you remarry after age
60 (or after 50 and are disabled), those benefits remain intact, unless you get
spousal benefits through your new spouse (at age 62 or older) if those benefits
are higher. If your second marriage ends as a result of death, divorce, or
annulment in less than 10 years, you will again be eligible to collect benefits
on your first spouse's record. Benefits paid to a disabled widow(er) are
unaffected by remarriage.
Note, too, that if you were the working spouse
during your first marriage, your remarriage does not change the Social Security
benefits paid to either your new spouse or ex-spouse. Because the rules
surrounding payment of benefits are complicated, and depend on your particular
situation, contact the Social Security Administration at (800) 772-1213 for
more information.
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