Multiple Marriages and Social Security Survivor Benefits (2024)

FAQs

Can two wives collect Social Security from one husband? ›

Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.

The first exception, which can be deemed as the Social Security spousal benefits loophole, works where an individual who remarries at 60 or later may still be entitled to Social Security survivors' benefits if the second marriage ends before the death of the first spouse.

The SSA will verify your marriage through a marriage certificate, certified public record of marriage, a certified statement of a religious record of marriage, or a foreign record of your marriage if married overseas.

The percentage of your spouse's full retirement benefit that you receive could be as little as 32.5% at age 62. It steps up gradually to 50% as you near your full retirement age, which is 65, 66 or 67, depending on your birth year. 2 And don't bother delaying your spousal benefits past your full retirement age.

Each married person is entitled to their social security benefits based on their own work record and is available to file for when the age of 62 is reached, though waiting beyond early retirement can increase the amount of the social security benefit.

If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit.

The current spouse benefit is based on 50 percent of the PIA of the other spouse. Reduce this percent each year by 1 percentage point beginning with newly eligible spouses in 2024, until the percent reaches 33 in 2040.

When a worker files for retirement benefits, the worker's spouse may be eligible for a benefit based on the worker's earnings. Another requirement is that the spouse must be at least age 62 or have a qualifying child in her/his care.

A Social Security spousal rule that has been around for decades officially ends this year for everyone except those who turned 70 on Jan. 1, 2024. The rule allows recipients to switch between their benefits and their spouse's to receive the maximum amount.

You can't receive survivor's benefits if you remarry before 60. If you remarry after age 60 (50 if disabled), you can still collect benefits on your former spouse's record. When you reach age 66, you may get retirement benefits from your new or current spouse's record if it is higher.

Do you lose your widows benefits if you remarry? ›

Namely, if you remarry before the age of 60 (or age 50 if you are disabled), you cannot receive benefits as a surviving spouse while you are married. If you remarry after the age of 60 (or age 50 if you are disabled), you will continue to qualify for benefits on your deceased spouse's Social Security record.

If you have since remarried, you can't collect benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage ended by annulment, divorce, or death. Also, if you're entitled to benefits on your own record, your benefit amount must be less than you would receive based on your ex-spouse's work.

“Survivor benefits” and “widow benefits” are both terms used for the same Social Security benefits paid to the surviving spouse and dependents after a person's death.

Your full spouse's benefit could be up to one-half the amount your spouse is entitled to receive at their full retirement age. If you choose to receive your spouse's benefits before you reach full retirement age, you will get a permanently reduced benefit.

If your spouse dies, do you get both Social Security benefits? You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement. If you qualify for both survivor and retirement benefits, you will receive whichever amount is higher.

Social Security survivors benefits are paid to widows, widowers, and dependents of eligible workers. This benefit is particularly important for young families with children.

Whether you can make this switch is determined by whether your spouse is already receiving benefits. If your spouse is not receiving any retirement benefits yet, then you could technically take your regular Social Security benefit as early as age 62.