Do widows get survivor benefits if they remarry?

Asked by: Beverly Schimmel II  |  Last update: January 12, 2026
Score: 4.9/5 (25 votes)

A widow(er) is eligible to receive benefits if she or he is at least age 60. If a widow(er) remarries before age 60, she or he forfeits the benefit and, therefore, faces a marriage penalty. Under current law, there is no penalty if the remarriage occurs at 60 years of age or later.

What happens to my Social Security widow benefits if I remarry?

If you remarry before age 60, you will not be entitled to survivor's benefits, unless: Your subsequent marriage ends, whether by death, divorce, or annulment; or. Your marriage occurred after age 50 and you were entitled to benefits as a disabled widow(er) or disabled surviving divorced spouse.

How does remarriage affect my survivor's benefit plan?

If you remarry before age 50 – You won't be eligible for survivors or disability benefits as a surviving spouse unless your later marriage ends by divorce or annulment.

What disqualifies you from survivor benefits for Social Security?

Usually, you can't get surviving spouse's benefits if you remarry before age 60 (or age 50 if you have a disability). But remarriage after age 60 (or age 50 if you have a disability) won't prevent you from getting benefit payments based on your former spouse's work.

Who gets survivor benefits, first or second wife?

Answer: Both your current spouse and your ex could be entitled to survivor benefits based on your work record. Typically someone must be married nine months to qualify for survivor benefits on a current spouse's record. If the spouses divorced, the marriage must have lasted 10 years.

Social Security Survivor/Widow Benefits 2023

17 related questions found

Do you lose widows pension if you remarry?

You'll get any State Pension based on your husband, wife or civil partner's National Insurance contribution when you claim your own pension. You will not get it if you remarry or form a new civil partnership before you reach State Pension age.

How long can a widow receive survivor benefits?

How long does a widow receive survivor benefits? Social Security benefits are payable to you for life unless you collect a retirement benefit that is greater than the survivor benefit.

What is the difference between survivor benefits and widow benefits?

The short version: Spousal benefits are available to retired workers' spouses or ex-spouses. They pay up to 50% of a worker's monthly retirement or disability benefit. Survivor benefits are paid to a surviving spouse or surviving ex-spouse when a Social Security beneficiary dies.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Specifically, a rumored $16,728 bonus that had people wondering if it was true or not in 2024? Sadly, there's no real “bonus” that retirees who receive Social Security can collect.

What is an ex-wife entitled to when her ex-husband dies?

Social Security rules allow a qualifying former spouse to claim benefits based on the work history of a higher-earning ex. These benefits are worth up to 50% of that former spouse's Social Security benefit at full retirement age. However, if that former spouse dies, the benefit's value is worth up to 100%.

How much does a widow get if her husband dies?

Spouses and ex-spouses

Payments start at 71.5% of your spouse's benefit and increase the longer you wait to apply. For example, you might get: Over 75% at age 61. Over 80% at age 63.

Do I lose my survivor pension if I remarry?

Your pension will continue even if you remarry.

Why do some widows never remarry?

Remarriage may be perceived as disadvanta- geous for some older adults. Bereaved persons who are receiving Social Security or pension benefits either through their own or their late spouse's employment may be subject to the loss or reduction of benefits upon remarriage (Stan- field & Nicolaou, 2000).

Does a widow get her deceased husband's Social Security and her own?

You cannot claim your deceased spouse's benefits in addition to your own retirement benefits. Social Security only will pay one—survivor or retirement.

Why do widowers remarry so quickly?

So, do most men then move on too quickly? Regardless of gender, people who remarry after their spouse's death report lower levels of depression and greater life satisfaction and well-being than those who don't.

What is the loophole for Social Security spousal benefits?

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.

How to get $3000 a month of Social Security benefits?

Exactly how much in earnings do you need to get a $3,000 benefit? Well, you just need to have averaged about 70% of the taxable maximum. In our example case, that means that your earnings in 1983 were about $22,000 and increased every year to where they ended at about $100,000 at age 62.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security income can be taxable no matter how old you are. It all depends on whether your total combined income exceeds a certain level set for your filing status. You may have heard that Social Security income is not taxed after age 70; this is false.

Who qualifies for an extra $144 added to their Social Security?

To qualify to get $144 added back to your Social Security check, you can enroll in a Medicare Advantage plan that offers a Part B premium reduction or giveback benefit.

Will I lose my deceased husband's SS if I remarry?

If you remarry before age 50

As a surviving spouse or ex-spouse, you lose your eligibility for survivor or disability benefits. Your monthly payouts, however, may be reinstated if your subsequent marriage ends in an annulment or a divorce.

What disqualifies you from Social Security survivor benefits?

If you remarry before you turn 60, your remarriage will affect the benefits you receive. After the age of 60, remarriage will no longer affect eligibility. The SSA compares survivor benefits to a life insurance policy that workers contribute to throughout their careers.

What is the widow's penalty?

The "penalty" is when the surviving spouse pays more tax on less income after the death of their partner. This occurs when the surviving spouse begins filing as a single filer the year after the death of their spouse.

Can a second wife get survivor benefits?

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.

What not to do when a spouse dies?

Top 10 Things Not to Do When Someone Dies
  1. 1 – DO NOT tell their bank. ...
  2. 2 – DO NOT wait to call Social Security. ...
  3. 3 – DO NOT wait to call their Pension. ...
  4. 4 – DO NOT tell the utility companies. ...
  5. 5 – DO NOT give away or promise any items to loved ones. ...
  6. 6 – DO NOT sell any of their personal assets. ...
  7. 7 – DO NOT drive their vehicles.

What are widows entitled to?

Social Security (SS) benefits are financial benefits provided by the government to widows or widowers after the death of their spouse. These benefits are designed to provide financial support to individuals who have lost their primary source of income due to the death of their partner.