Can I choose which deceased husband's Social Security survivor benefits to claim at 60?

Yes, you can choose which deceased spouse's record to collect survivor benefits from when you turn 60. The key factor is that both marriages meet the duration requirements for eligibility. For survivor benefits, you generally need to have been married for at least 9 months (with some exceptions like accidental death). Since your first marriage was 32 years, that clearly qualifies. Your second marriage of 22 days would normally not qualify unless there's an exception that applies (like accidental death or military service death). Assuming both marriages qualify, you should compare the benefit amounts from each deceased spouse's record. The higher earner would likely provide you with a larger survivor benefit. Remember that taking survivor benefits at 60 means a reduction - you'll get only about 71.5% of the full survivor benefit you would get at your full retirement age.

Wait I thought u only need to be married 9 months for widow benefits?? My aunt got benefits from her 2nd husband who died after 10 months of marriage. Did the rules change??

I went through something similar but with only one deceased spouse. When I called SSA to discuss my options, I was on hold for almost 2 HOURS and then got disconnected! After three more attempts with the same result, I found a service called Claimyr that got me connected to an SSA agent in under 20 minutes. They basically call SSA for you and hold your place in line, then call you when an agent is available. You can see how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or go to claimyr.com. Saved me so much frustration when I was trying to understand my survivor benefit options.

This is EXACTLY why the Social Security system is so frustrating!!! The arbitrary 9-month rule is ridiculous - your second husband paid into the system his ENTIRE WORKING LIFE but because you were only married 22 days (through no fault of your own!!), you can't access those benefits??? It's THEFT of his contributions as far as I'm concerned. Call your congressional representative and complain about this injustice. The whole system needs an overhaul.

Since your second marriage doesn't meet the 9-month duration requirement, you'll only be eligible for survivor benefits from your first husband unless an exception applies. However, here's something important to consider: If you wait until your Full Retirement Age (probably 67 if you're currently 58), you could apply for your own retirement benefits if they're higher than your survivor benefits from your first husband. Another strategy to consider: You could take reduced survivor benefits at 60 based on your first husband's record, then switch to your own retirement benefits at 70 if they would be higher. This would allow your own retirement benefit to grow with delayed retirement credits. I'd recommend creating a my Social Security account at ssa.gov to see estimates of all your potential benefits before making any decisions.

sorry but quick question - does remarrying affect widow benefits? my mom is widowed and thinking about getting remarried but worried about losing her checks

My condolences on your losses. I went thru something similar. My first husband passed after 18 yrs of marriage then my second after only 8 months. I was able to collect on my first husband bc the second marriage didn't meet requirements. When I applied they told me I needed death certificates for both husbands even tho I only qualified on the first one's record. Make sure you have all documentation ready when you apply to avoid delays. Good luck!

To address your question about exceptions to the 9-month marriage rule: There are specific exceptions, but unfortunately, a natural death from heart attack typically wouldn't qualify. The main exceptions are: 1. Death was accidental 2. Death occurred in the line of duty as an active member of the uniformed services 3. You had a previous marriage to the same person that would satisfy the 9-month requirement 4. You were previously eligible for certain benefits on the deceased's record However, it's always worth discussing your specific case with SSA. Sometimes there are nuances to individual situations that might affect eligibility. This is definitely a conversation worth having directly with a Social Security representative.

my sister took widow benefits at 60 and the amount was pretty small just fyi. if u can wait till ur full retirement age u get alot more. but i guess it depends on ur financial situation if u need the money now or can wait

I'm sorry for your losses, Jasmine. What a difficult situation to navigate while grieving. Based on what others have shared, it sounds like you'll likely only qualify for survivor benefits from your first husband's record due to the 9-month marriage requirement. One thing I'd suggest is requesting benefit estimates from SSA for all your options - survivor benefits from your first husband at different ages (60, full retirement age) and your own retirement benefits at different claiming ages. This will help you see the actual dollar amounts and make the best financial decision. Also, don't forget about the earnings test if you're still working when you claim survivor benefits before full retirement age. If you earn over certain limits, it could temporarily reduce your benefits. Since you mentioned working part-time, this might be worth factoring into your timing decision. Have you considered speaking with a financial advisor who specializes in Social Security strategies? They might be able to help you model different scenarios based on your specific financial situation.

I'm so sorry for your losses, Jasmine. Losing two spouses is incredibly difficult, and navigating the Social Security system on top of that grief must be overwhelming. From what I've learned through my own experience and research, the 9-month marriage rule is unfortunately pretty strict. Your first marriage of 32 years definitely qualifies you for survivor benefits, but the 22-day second marriage likely won't unless there's a very specific exception (which doesn't seem to apply based on what you've shared). Here's what I'd recommend: Call SSA or use that Claimyr service someone mentioned to get official confirmation about your eligibility from both marriages. Even though it seems unlikely for the second marriage, it's worth having SSA review your specific case. Also, consider this timing strategy: You could file a restricted application for just survivor benefits at 60 (reduced to about 71.5% of full benefit), continue working if you want, and let your own retirement benefits grow until age 70 with delayed retirement credits. Then you could switch to your own benefits if they end up being higher. The key is getting those benefit estimates from SSA for all scenarios so you can see the actual numbers and make the best choice for your financial future.

I'm so sorry for your losses, Jasmine. What an incredibly difficult situation to navigate on top of your grief. Based on the discussion here, it looks like you'll likely only qualify for survivor benefits from your first husband due to the 9-month marriage requirement. However, I wanted to add one important point that I don't think has been fully addressed: make sure to also consider your own work record in this equation. Since you're 58 now, you have potentially 9 more years to build your own Social Security credits before full retirement age. If you're still working part-time, those earnings could potentially increase your own future retirement benefit. Sometimes people get so focused on survivor benefits that they overlook optimizing their own record. The strategy several others mentioned - taking reduced survivor benefits at 60 while letting your own benefits grow with delayed retirement credits until 70 - could be really powerful if your own benefit would eventually exceed the survivor benefit. I'd also suggest when you do contact SSA (whether directly or through that Claimyr service), ask specifically about "deemed filing" rules and how they might affect your ability to switch between benefit types later. The rules can be complex, and you want to make sure you understand all your options before making any filing decisions.