Will not reporting my 4 marriages (all under 10 years) affect my Social Security application?

You need to disclose ALL marriages on your Social Security application, regardless of length. The application specifically asks for this information, and providing false or incomplete information could be considered fraud. While you're right that the 10-year mark matters for spousal benefits, the SSA still requires your complete marital history for their records and verification purposes.

omg i went through similar thing, had 3 marriages myself. just list them all honestly. they do check sometimes! my friend tried skipping one and got a letter asking for more info which delayed her benefits by like 2 months

As someone who worked with SSA claims for years, I can tell you that omitting marriages is a common mistake that can cause serious problems. Even though you can't claim spousal benefits from marriages under 10 years, SSA needs this information to properly establish your identity and benefit eligibility. They cross-reference their databases with vital records. If discrepancies are found, your application will be flagged for review, potentially delaying your benefits by weeks or months while they investigate. Always provide complete information - it's not worth the headache of dealing with an investigation.

THEY CHECK EVERYTHING!!! I left off one marriage from 30 years ago (honestly forgot about it, was only married 6 months) and the SSA put my whole application on hold for FOUR MONTHS!!! Had to go through hell trying to find documentation from another state. Just be 100% honest or you'll regret it.

The most efficient approach is to list all marriages with as much detail as you can remember (dates, locations, former spouses' names and DOBs if you know them). You don't necessarily need to have all certificates in hand when you initially apply, but having them will speed up the process if they request verification. If you're missing documentation, explain that to SSA - they can often help locate records through their systems. Remember to include marriages that were annulled too, not just divorces. The key is transparency with SSA - they're not judging your relationship history, they just need accurate records.

I tried calling SSA about a similar situation (had to report 2 past marriages) and spent 3 days trying to get through to someone. So frustrating! Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. The agent I spoke with confirmed I needed to report ALL marriages regardless of length, and said having the marriage/divorce dates was most important, even if I didn't have all certificates on hand.

My cousin went through this last year. She has been married 3 times and they ended up requesting her marriage certificate from her first marriage from 1982! Took her forever to track it down. Better to be honest upfront.

One additional note - when you list your marriages on the application, you'll need to provide information about how each marriage ended (divorce, annulment, death). For divorces, they'll want the date and place. Don't worry if you don't remember exact dates - estimating the month and year is usually sufficient, though having the divorce decrees on hand is ideal. If you're applying online, you can scan and upload any documents you have, or bring them to a local SSA office if you're applying in person.

Just wanted to add that if you're having trouble locating old marriage or divorce records, many states now have online databases where you can request certified copies. VitalChek is a common service that works with most state vital records offices - you can often get documents mailed to you within a week or two for a fee. Also, some county clerk offices have digitized their older records and you can search online. It's worth checking before assuming you'll have to make phone calls or visit offices in person. Having been through this process myself, I found that being proactive about gathering documents made the whole SSA application much smoother.

I went through a similar situation when I applied for Social Security last year. I had 3 marriages, none lasting 10 years, and I initially thought about leaving one off since it was only 8 months long. But after reading horror stories online about people getting their applications delayed or flagged for incomplete information, I decided to include everything. I'm so glad I did - they actually did ask for additional documentation on one of my marriages during the review process. The SSA representative told me that even though short marriages don't affect spousal benefits, they still need the complete picture for identity verification and to ensure there are no other potential benefits you might be entitled to (like survivor benefits if a former spouse passes away). It's definitely worth the extra paperwork to avoid any complications down the road.

I'm currently going through this exact process right now! I have 2 previous marriages, both under 10 years, and I was initially hesitant to include them on my application. After reading through all these responses, I'm definitely going to be completely transparent. What really convinced me was hearing about the delays and potential fraud investigations - I can't afford to have my benefits held up for months while they sort things out. I've already started gathering my old marriage and divorce certificates. One thing I learned is that my local SSA office actually has a checklist they can give you of all the documents you might need, which has been really helpful in making sure I don't miss anything. Thanks everyone for sharing your experiences - it's made this whole process feel much less overwhelming knowing I'm not the only one who's been in this situation.

Based on everyone's experiences shared here, I'd strongly recommend being completely honest about all your marriages. I work as a benefits counselor and see this situation frequently. The SSA has sophisticated cross-referencing systems that can flag incomplete marital histories, and the consequences of omitting information far outweigh any temporary convenience. Even marriages under 10 years matter for their records - they use this info for identity verification, potential future survivor benefits, and ensuring accurate benefit calculations. The embarrassment factor is understandable, but SSA staff have seen it all and aren't there to judge. Start gathering your documentation now - marriage certificates, divorce decrees, dates and locations. If you're missing some paperwork, note that on your application and explain you're working to obtain it. Being proactive and transparent from the start will save you potential months of delays and stress later.

I completely understand the temptation to skip mentioning those shorter marriages - it does feel like unnecessary paperwork when you know they won't affect your benefits. But after reading all these experiences, I'd definitely echo what everyone else is saying about being completely transparent. I'm a retired paralegal who used to help clients with various government applications, and I've seen firsthand how omitting seemingly "irrelevant" information can snowball into major headaches. The SSA's computer systems are surprisingly thorough at cross-referencing records, and what seems like a minor detail to you might be a red flag to their system. Plus, if they do catch the omission later, it raises questions about what else might be missing from your application. It's always better to over-disclose than under-disclose with federal agencies. Good luck with your application - sounds like you're making the right choice to include everything!

I'm a newcomer here but wanted to share what happened when my mom applied for Social Security last year. She had been married twice before my dad, both marriages lasting less than 5 years, and she initially didn't mention them on her application thinking they weren't relevant. Big mistake! About 6 weeks after she filed, she got a letter from SSA asking for clarification about "discrepancies in marital history records." Turns out their system had flagged something during the background check. She had to provide marriage and divorce certificates for both previous marriages, which delayed her first benefit payment by almost 3 months. The SSA representative explained that they need complete marital history regardless of duration because it affects their identity verification process and ensures they have accurate records for any potential future claims. My mom wishes she had just been upfront from the beginning - would have saved her a lot of stress and paperwork headaches. Definitely recommend including all marriages on your application!

As a newcomer to this community, I just wanted to say how incredibly helpful this entire thread has been! I'm in a very similar situation - getting ready to apply for Social Security and have 3 previous marriages, all under 8 years. I was honestly considering leaving at least one of them off my application, but after reading everyone's experiences here, I'm 100% convinced that complete transparency is the only way to go. The stories about delays, fraud investigations, and having to track down decades-old paperwork after the fact are exactly the kind of headaches I want to avoid. It's also reassuring to know that SSA staff aren't there to judge anyone's relationship history - they just need accurate information for their systems. I'm going to start gathering all my marriage and divorce certificates this week. Thank you all for sharing your experiences and advice - this thread should be required reading for anyone with multiple marriages applying for Social Security!

As a newcomer to this community, I wanted to share my perspective after reading through all these incredibly helpful responses. I'm actually a former SSA claims specialist who worked there for 8 years, and I can confirm everything everyone has said about the importance of complete disclosure. The computer systems at SSA are more sophisticated than most people realize - they routinely cross-reference data with state vital records, IRS records, and other federal databases. When discrepancies are found (and they usually are), it triggers an automatic review process that can delay benefits for months. I've seen cases where people omitted marriages from 20+ years ago and still got caught. The "10-year rule" for spousal benefits is completely separate from the requirement to report all marriages - SSA needs your complete marital history for identity verification, potential survivor benefits, and to ensure they have accurate records in their system. My advice: gather whatever documentation you can, but don't stress if you're missing some certificates. You can always explain what you're unable to locate and SSA can often help track down records. The key is being upfront and honest from the start. Trust me, the temporary embarrassment is nothing compared to the stress of dealing with a fraud investigation or months of delayed benefits!

As a newcomer to this community, I want to thank everyone for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences! I'm in a similar boat with 2 previous marriages (both under 7 years) and was initially thinking about leaving them off my upcoming SSA application. After reading through all these responses, especially from the former SSA claims specialist, I'm completely convinced that full disclosure is absolutely essential. The stories about automatic system flags, fraud investigations, and months-long delays are exactly what I want to avoid. It's also really reassuring to know that having multiple short marriages is more common than I thought - makes me feel less alone in this situation. I'm going to start gathering my old marriage and divorce certificates this weekend. Better to deal with some paperwork upfront than risk the nightmare scenarios described here. This thread has been incredibly valuable - thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and advice!