Elder Law Answers
How Do Divorce and Remarriage Affect Social Security Benefits?
It is common knowledge that husbands and wives are entitled to collect Social Security benefits on their spouses' work rec...
Read moreCan My Ex and I Remarry in Order to Make Social Security's 10-Year Marriage Requirement for Benefits?
- January 16th, 2015
Q
I was married for nine years but now I'm divorced from my ex. Social Security says you have to be married at least 10 years in order to receive benefits on a former spouse’s Social Security record, meaning that we're short one year. If we were to get remarried for a year or more, would that count as at least 10 years?
A
That’s an interesting strategy, but I’m afraid not. The Social Security Administration says that a person must be divorced after at least “10 straight years of marriage” to receive benefits on the ex-spouse’s work record. So if you can last at least another decade together, you should be in business.
For more on how divorce and remarriage affect Social Security benefits, click here.
For more on Social Security benefits for spouses and children, click here.
Last Modified: 01/16/2015