Thinking about remarrying after retirement? here’s how it could impact your Social Security benefits
Tying the knot can offer a couple many benefits like inheritance rights, legal protections and tax advantages. But depending on what kind of Social Security benefits you are receiving in retirement, getting married could affect your payments.
If you are collecting benefits from your own contributions to the Social Security program, they will not be affected. However, if you are receiving benefits from a previous spouse’s work record, those payments usually stop. Here’s a look.
Remarriage and Social Security benefits
Americans who get divorced are permitted to collect retirement benefits based on their former spouse’s work record if they were married to that person for ten years or more, are currently not married and are over the age of 62.
If the person is eligible for benefits based on their own work history, the Social Security Administration will pay the greater of the two, but not both. Generally, a person can expect to receive about 50% of what their former spouse would be paid at the claimant’s age, and it does not affect the benefit amount your ex-spouse receives.
If a person looking to claim their former spouse’s benefits gets remarried, they will not be able to collect benefits unless the subsequent marriage is terminated by annulment, divorce, or death.
As far as survivor benefits go, you can typically get the same amount that your deceased spouse would have received. However, getting remarried could see you losing those benefits depending on when you tie the knot.
Getting remarried before you turn 50, you may be able to claim survivor’s benefits if you get divorced. Between age 50 and 59, you cannot claim survivor’s benefits based on your deceased spouse’s work record. If you remarry after age 60 you may be able to receive survivor’s benefits.
It is best to consult with the SSA to find out exactly what benefits you are entitled to as each person’s situation is different.
How to apply for benefits?
The SSA notes that a claim can be filed online using the Social Security Retirement/Medicare Application to apply for retirement, spousal, divorced spouse, or Medicare benefits.
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