Social Security spousal benefits and remarriage - will I lose my $1100 if I marry again?

Be VERY careful! When you remarry, you LOSE ex-spouse benefits immediately! I learned this the hard way when I got remarried at 63. You can't collect on your new husband's record until you've been married for at least ONE YEAR. So there's definitely a gap where you might get NOTHING!!!

The previous comment isn't entirely correct. Here's what happens when you remarry: 1. Yes, you will lose your ex-spouse benefit upon remarriage 2. You're correct that there's a one-year duration-of-marriage requirement before you can collect spousal benefits on your new husband's record 3. HOWEVER, you should still be eligible for your own retirement benefits during that gap period if you have enough work credits Since you mentioned you started collecting at 62, you likely have some work history. During the one-year waiting period, you would receive your own benefit amount (which would be less than the spousal benefit you're currently receiving). The key question is: are you currently receiving only the spousal benefit, or are you receiving your own retirement benefit plus a spousal add-on that brings you to the $1100 total?

I went thru almost the exact same thing last year! Remarrying after divorce means you lose ex-spouse benefits immediate. That ONE YEAR waiting period is real too. But I think the important question is how much your new husband's benefit is compared to your ex. If your new husband's SS is higher, you might end up with more after the waiting period. But yeah, there is definitely a gap. I used some savings to cover that year. No exceptions either - I tried!! The SSA is super strict about this stuff.

Just wanted to say congrats on finding love again! That's wonderful! My aunt went through something similar, but I think she waited until after 65 to remarry for some reason related to her benefits. Maybe something to consider?

To answer your question about checking if you're receiving your own benefit plus a spousal supplement or just the spousal benefit: log into your my Social Security account at ssa.gov and view your current benefits. It should break down the components of your payment. One important fact: if you wait until you're full retirement age (66 and some months for your birth year) to remarry, different rules apply. After FRA, you can actually claim ex-spouse benefits even if you remarry! So timing your marriage could make a significant difference. Also, once you've been married to your new husband for a year, you'll be eligible for 50% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) if that's higher than your own benefit. If your new husband's benefit is substantially higher than your ex's, waiting that one year might be worth it financially in the long run.

have u tried calling SSA to ask? i had a q about my benefits last month and it took 3 days of calling to get thru. super annoying but they should be able to tell u exactly what would happen in ur situation

Just to clarify on the remarriage after FRA (Full Retirement Age) point: If you remarry after reaching your FRA, you can collect benefits on your former spouse's record if your current marriage is to someone who receives Social Security disability, retirement, or survivor benefits. This is a very specific exception that might not apply in your situation. Since you mentioned you're 64 now, you'll reach your FRA in approximately 2-3 years (depending on your birth year). If financially possible, waiting until then to remarry could give you more options.

Another thing to consider: have you looked into how much your own benefit would be? If you did work part-time throughout your life, you may have enough credits for your own retirement benefit. While it might be less than what you're receiving now as a spousal benefit, it would give you some income during that one-year waiting period if you decide to remarry before FRA.

My mom just went thru all this stuff last year. So confusing!!! She ended up postponing her wedding for like 8 months because of all the benefit rules. Social security is so complicated!

Have you tried calling the SSA? I spent weeks trying to get through to them when I had questions about my remarriage and benefits. It was impossible - busy signals, disconnections, being on hold for hours. I finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent within 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Honestly, for a situation this complicated, you really need to speak directly with SSA about your specific case rather than relying on general advice.

ALSO!!! Make sure you talk to your boyfriend about this!!! My friend lost nearly $15,000 in benefits during her "gap year" after remarrying. If I were you, I'd ask the new husband-to-be to help cover that loss since it's happening because of the marriage. Only fair, right???

Based on everything discussed, here's a summary of your options: 1. Remarry now: Lose ex-spousal benefits immediately, possibly receive only your own (likely lower) benefit for one year, then receive 50% of your new husband's PIA if that's higher than your own benefit 2. Wait until FRA to remarry: Potentially keep ex-spousal benefits even after remarriage if your new husband is receiving Social Security benefits 3. Calculate the financial impact: Compare one year of reduced benefits against the long-term higher benefit you might receive based on your new husband's record I'd recommend creating a spreadsheet to calculate different scenarios. This is ultimately a personal decision that involves both financial and emotional factors.

One more thing to consider that I don't think anyone mentioned - if you're currently getting divorced spousal benefits, make sure you understand whether you're getting the maximum amount available to you. Since you started collecting at 62, your benefit is reduced, but if your ex-husband hasn't filed for his own benefits yet, your spousal benefit might increase when he does file (this is called the "deemed filing" rule). Also, when you do eventually remarry and become eligible for spousal benefits on your new husband's record, remember that spousal benefits are also reduced if taken before your FRA. So if your new husband's benefit is higher but you're still under FRA when you become eligible, you won't get the full 50% of his PIA. Definitely get all the numbers from SSA before making your decision. The timing of this decision could literally be worth thousands of dollars per year for the rest of your life!

I just want to echo what others have said about getting the exact numbers from SSA before making any decisions. I went through something similar a few years ago and was shocked to learn that my own work record was actually higher than I thought it would be. One thing that might help while you're gathering information - you can create different scenarios in writing and ask SSA to walk through each one with you when you finally get through to them. Have questions ready like: "What would my monthly benefit be if I remarry in 6 months?" versus "What if I wait until I'm 67?" Also, don't forget to factor in Medicare considerations too - sometimes remarriage can affect your Medicare premiums if your new spouse has higher income. It's just another piece of the puzzle to consider. The fact that you're being so thoughtful about this decision shows you're approaching it the right way. Take your time, get all the facts, and then you can make the best decision for both your heart and your wallet!

I'm a benefits counselor and wanted to add some clarity to this discussion. While the advice here has been generally good, there are a few nuances worth mentioning: First, regarding the "gap year" - you may not have zero income during that period. If you have your own work record (even from part-time work), you'll receive your own retirement benefit during the waiting period. The key is understanding what portion of your current $1,100 is YOUR benefit versus the spousal add-on. Second, about timing and FRA - the rule about remarrying after FRA is more restrictive than some comments suggest. You can only continue receiving divorced spousal benefits after remarrying at FRA if your NEW spouse is also receiving Social Security benefits. This isn't always the case. Third, consider this strategy: before remarrying, file a new application to switch from divorced spousal benefits to your own retirement benefit (if it's available and makes sense). This way, you'll know exactly what YOUR baseline benefit is, and remarriage won't create a sudden change - just a delay in accessing the new spousal benefit. I'd strongly recommend getting a personalized benefit estimate from SSA that shows all your options before making this decision. The difference in timing could easily be worth $10,000+ over your lifetime.