Will remarrying after 60 cancel my Social Security survivor benefits?

Good news - you can remarry now without losing your survivor benefits! The Social Security Administration allows widow(er)s who remarry at age 60 or later to continue receiving survivor benefits from their deceased spouse. This is specifically addressed in SSA rules to protect older survivors. If you had remarried before turning 60, then yes, you would've lost eligibility, but you're past that threshold now. Just make sure SSA has your updated information if you do get married (name change, etc.), but your benefit amount should remain the same. And congratulations on finding happiness again!

NOT TRUE!!!! My aunt remarried at 62 and THEY TOOK ALL HER MONEY AWAY!!! She had to fight for MONTHS to get it back!!! The SSA always finds ways to cut benefits - don't trust what they say on their website!!!

Congrats on finding love again! Im in a similar boat lost my wife in 2022 and started dating again last yr. When I called social security about this the wait was INSANE but when I finally got thru they confirmed what others are saying - after 60 your good to remarry without losing survivors.

Just wanted to add that while your survivor benefits are safe if you remarry after 60, you should also consider how marriage might affect other benefits. For example, if you qualify for spousal benefits from your new husband someday, SSA will pay whichever benefit amount is higher - either your survivor benefit or the new spousal benefit - not both. Also, if your new spouse receives certain government pensions, it could potentially impact benefits through the Government Pension Offset (GPO) provision. If you want personalized advice for your specific situation, I'd recommend scheduling an appointment with your local SSA office. They can review your complete benefit history and future options.

When I needed to reach SSA about my widower benefits last year, I used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU It was worth it to get definitive answers about my benefits instead of relying on conflicting advice from friends and family. The agent I spoke with confirmed that remarriage after 60 doesn't affect survivor benefits, and helped me understand some other options I hadn't considered.

my mom remarryed after 60 and kept her benifits from my dad so your probly fine. congrats on the new relationship btw!

I understand your concern about remarriage affecting survivor benefits. I just want to add that while your benefits are protected since you're over 60, you might want to consider consulting with an elder law attorney before marriage. They can help you understand implications beyond Social Security - things like inheritance for children from previous marriages, medical decisions, long-term care planning, etc. My sister remarried at 63 and wished she had gotten some legal advice first to protect both their interests.

Thank you all for your helpful responses! I feel so much better now understanding that I can keep my survivor benefits if we decide to get married. I'm going to look into making an appointment at my local SSA office to discuss all the details of my specific situation, including implications related to his teacher's pension. I might also try that Claimyr service someone mentioned if I can't get through to schedule an appointment. And the suggestion about consulting an elder law attorney is definitely something we'll consider - we both have adult children and our own retirement savings/assets to think about. It's strange navigating romance and practical matters at this stage of life, but I'm grateful for all your insights!

I'm so happy to see this community coming together to help you navigate this situation! As someone who works in benefits counseling, I want to emphasize a few key points that others have touched on: 1. You're absolutely correct that remarriage after 60 protects your survivor benefits - this is a well-established SSA rule. 2. The suggestion about the Government Pension Offset (GPO) is crucial given your boyfriend's teacher pension. This could affect any future spousal benefits you might be eligible for from his record. 3. I'd strongly recommend getting everything in writing from SSA when you do speak with them. Sometimes phone representatives give conflicting information, so having documentation protects you. One additional consideration: if you're receiving any other benefits (like subsidized housing, SNAP, or Medicaid), marriage could affect those programs differently than Social Security. Each program has its own rules about household income and assets. Wishing you the best as you plan for this new chapter! It sounds like you're being very thoughtful about balancing your heart and your financial security.

As a newcomer to this community, I just want to say how heartwarming it is to see everyone rallying around Liam with such helpful and supportive advice! Reading through all these responses, I'm learning so much about Social Security rules that I never knew existed. I'm particularly grateful for the practical tips people have shared - like the Claimyr service for getting through to SSA faster, and the reminder about getting everything in writing. These are the kinds of real-world insights you just can't find in official pamphlets. Liam, your story really resonates with me. While I'm not in the exact same situation, I can imagine how overwhelming it must feel to balance new love with financial security concerns. It's wonderful that you're being so thoughtful about all the implications before making any big decisions. Thank you all for creating such a welcoming space where people can get genuine help with these complex government benefit questions!

As someone who recently went through a similar process with SSA regarding survivor benefits, I wanted to add one more practical tip that might help. When you do get through to speak with an SSA representative (whether through regular channels or that Claimyr service others mentioned), ask them to send you a written summary of your conversation via mail or through your my Social Security account online. I learned this the hard way when I got different information from two different phone representatives about my benefits. Having that written documentation saved me a lot of headaches later when I needed to reference what was discussed. Also, if your local SSA office offers appointments (some do, some don't), that can sometimes be more reliable than phone calls since you're speaking with someone face-to-face and can ask them to print out relevant information right there. Best of luck with everything, Liam! It sounds like you're approaching this thoughtfully and have gotten some excellent advice from this community.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really impressed by the wealth of knowledge and support being shared here! Reading through this thread has been incredibly educational - I had no idea about the age 60 rule for survivor benefits and remarriage, or about complexities like the Government Pension Offset. Liam, your situation really highlights how important it is to get accurate information from multiple sources. The conflicting advice you initially received from friends shows why communities like this are so valuable - you're getting insights from people who've actually navigated these systems firsthand. I'm particularly grateful for all the practical tips shared here: the Claimyr service for getting through to SSA faster, the importance of getting everything in writing, considering elder law attorneys for the broader financial picture, and the reminder about in-person appointments at local SSA offices. Even though I'm not currently dealing with survivor benefits, I'm learning so much that will help me better understand Social Security rules in general. Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their experiences and knowledge - this is exactly the kind of supportive community that makes navigating government benefits less overwhelming!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm truly amazed by the depth of knowledge and genuine care shown in this thread! Liam, your story touched my heart - finding love again after loss is such a beautiful thing, and it's completely understandable to have concerns about how it might affect your financial security. The consensus here seems very clear that your survivor benefits are protected since you're over 60, which must be such a relief! But I'm really grateful for all the additional considerations people have raised - the Government Pension Offset with teacher pensions, the importance of elder law consultation, and all those practical tips about documenting SSA conversations. What strikes me most is how this thread demonstrates the real value of community knowledge. You went from conflicting advice from friends to getting clear, actionable guidance from people who've actually navigated these waters. The suggestion about the Claimyr service alone could save you hours of frustration! It sounds like you're approaching this decision with both your heart and your head, which is exactly right. Wishing you and your boyfriend all the best as you plan this next chapter together - you deserve happiness and financial security!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm really touched by Liam's story and the incredible support he's received here! The clarity everyone has provided about the age 60 rule for survivor benefits is so reassuring - what a relief that must be for you, Liam. I'm particularly impressed by how comprehensive the advice has been. Beyond just answering the core Social Security question, people have thoughtfully raised considerations about GPO with teacher pensions, the importance of elder law consultation for broader financial planning, and practical tips like using services to get through SSA phone lines faster. As someone completely new to understanding these benefit systems, I've learned so much just from reading this thread. The real-world experiences shared here - from success stories to cautionary tales about getting conflicting information from representatives - provide context you simply can't get from official websites. Liam, it's wonderful that you're finding love again and approaching this decision so thoughtfully. The fact that you can move forward with your relationship while protecting your financial security is exactly what these survivor benefit protections were designed to ensure. Wishing you both happiness as you plan this next chapter together! This community truly demonstrates how valuable it is to have a place where people can share both knowledge and genuine care for one another's wellbeing.

As a newcomer to this community, I'm absolutely moved by the incredible support and wisdom shared in this thread! Liam, your story really resonates with me - navigating love and practical concerns later in life requires such courage and thoughtfulness. The consensus here about your survivor benefits being protected after age 60 is so reassuring, but I'm equally impressed by all the additional layers people have helped you consider. The insights about Government Pension Offset with your boyfriend's teacher pension, the suggestion to consult an elder law attorney, and those practical tips about documenting SSA conversations - this community has given you such a comprehensive roadmap. I'm particularly grateful for learning about resources like the Claimyr service. As someone who dreads those endless hold times with government agencies, knowing there are legitimate ways to streamline the process is incredibly valuable information to file away for the future. What strikes me most is how this thread demonstrates the power of community knowledge over conflicting secondhand advice. You've gone from uncertainty to having a clear path forward, complete with actionable next steps. That's exactly what these support networks should provide. Wishing you and your boyfriend all the happiness as you plan this exciting next chapter - it's beautiful that you can move forward with both your heart and your financial security intact!

As a newcomer to this community, I'm truly inspired by the incredible support and knowledge sharing I've witnessed in this thread! Liam, your story beautifully illustrates how life can surprise us with unexpected blessings, even during our most challenging times. The clarity this community has provided about your survivor benefits being protected after age 60 must be such an enormous relief! But what really impresses me is how everyone has gone beyond just answering your immediate question to help you think through all the interconnected considerations - from GPO implications with teacher pensions to the broader financial planning aspects of remarriage later in life. As someone completely new to understanding these benefit systems, I've learned more from reading this single thread than I could have imagined. The practical tips shared here - like the Claimyr service for navigating SSA phone lines, the importance of getting everything documented in writing, and the suggestion to consult elder law attorneys - are invaluable resources I'll definitely remember for the future. What touches me most is seeing how this community has supported you in balancing matters of the heart with practical financial concerns. The fact that you can move forward with confidence in your relationship while protecting your financial security is exactly what these survivor benefit protections were meant to achieve. Wishing you and your boyfriend tremendous happiness as you plan this beautiful next chapter together! Thank you to everyone for creating such a welcoming, knowledgeable space.