Can I collect ex-spouse survivor benefits after remarrying with my own Social Security?
I recently lost my ex-husband to cancer and I'm trying to understand if I qualify for any additional benefits. We were married for just over 10 years (divorced in 2007) and I've been remarried since 2015. I'm currently 67 and collecting my own Social Security retirement benefits (about $2,100/month). My ex-husband's benefit was substantially higher - around $3,200/month when he passed. I've heard conflicting information about whether I can collect the difference between my benefit and his since I'm remarried. Does anyone know if I'm eligible for anything in this situation? The SSA website is confusing me with all the different survivor rules. Thanks for any guidance!
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Chloe Davis
Sorry, but you're out of luck. Once you remarry, you lose eligibility for ANY ex-spouse benefits. The SSA is very strict about this. You might as well not even bother applying.
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Omar Farouk
•That's disappointing to hear. I thought there might be exceptions since we were married over 10 years. Are you certain this applies to survivor benefits too, not just spousal benefits?
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AstroAlpha
Actually theres different rules for survivor vs regular spousal benefits!! My sister went thru something similar last year
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Omar Farouk
•Oh really? That gives me some hope! Did your sister get approved for benefits even though she remarried?
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Diego Chavez
The previous responses are mixing up different benefits. Here's the accurate information: For divorced spouse's SURVIVOR benefits (which is what you're asking about), you CAN receive benefits on your deceased ex-spouse's record if your current marriage occurred after you turned 60. Since you remarried in 2015 and are now 67, the key question is whether you were over 60 when you remarried. If yes, you can potentially receive the difference between your current benefit and what you would receive as a surviving divorced spouse (which would be up to 100% of your ex's benefit). You should definitely contact SSA to determine the exact amount, as there are other factors that might affect the calculation.
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Omar Farouk
•Thank you so much for clarifying! I was 57 when I remarried in 2015, so I guess that means I'm not eligible after all. Really appreciate the explanation of the age 60 rule - at least now I understand why.
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Anastasia Smirnova
This is why the Social Security system is SO FRUSTRATING!!! All these arbitrary rules that totally screw people over. Why should it matter if you were 57 or 60 when you remarried?? You paid into the system just like everyone else. The whole thing needs a complete overhaul!
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Sean O'Brien
•While I understand your frustration, there is actually some logic behind the age 60 rule. It was designed to prevent people from losing financial security in their later years due to remarriage. The assumption is that by age 60, people are closer to retirement and new marriages may be less about financial support. But I agree that these rules can seem arbitrary and confusing to navigate.
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Zara Shah
my neighbor had almost the exact situation and she ended up getting benefits! dont give up so quickly
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Sean O'Brien
•Every situation is different, and there are occasional exceptions based on very specific circumstances. Would you happen to know if your neighbor remarried after age 60? That would be the key difference here, as the original poster mentioned remarrying at 57.
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Luca Bianchi
Have you actually tried calling SSA directly? I spent WEEKS trying to get through on their 800 number, always disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in under 30 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Worth it to get a definitive answer about your specific situation instead of relying on forum advice!
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Omar Farouk
•That's actually really helpful - I've been putting off calling because I tried twice and got disconnected after waiting over an hour. I'll check out that service. You're right that I need to hear directly from SSA about my specific situation.
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Sean O'Brien
To summarize the correct information for your situation: 1. Survivor benefits for divorced spouses DO allow for remarriage, but only if that remarriage occurs at age 60 or later. 2. Since you remarried at 57, unfortunately you don't qualify for survivor benefits on your ex-spouse's record. 3. However, if your current marriage were to end (through death or divorce), you would become eligible again for survivor benefits from your first husband. 4. It's still worth contacting SSA directly to verify all details, as there might be aspects of your situation that could affect eligibility (disability status, caring for dependent children, etc.). I hope this helps clarify the rules, even if it's not the outcome you were hoping for.
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Omar Farouk
•Thank you for this clear summary. I appreciate everyone's help in understanding these complicated rules. I'll definitely follow up with SSA directly just to be 100% certain, but at least now I have realistic expectations. It's a bit frustrating to miss the age cutoff by just a few years, but that's how it goes sometimes.
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