Dean Drobot, en.elcierredigital.com Blunt warning from the SSA and US government: You'll have to wait a year
Social Security clears up any existing doubts for millions of married Americans: this interests you
The Social Security Administration (SSA) and the United States Government have issued a clear notice about marriage requirements to receive Social Security benefits. This notice has raised questions, especially among divorced spouses and people planning to marry or remarry.
Pay attention to this SSA detail: the time you must be married to receive benefits
To be entitled to benefits as a spouse of Social Security, you generally must have been married for at least one year. This means that if you marry and your spouse is already receiving benefits, you won't be able to claim them immediately. You must wait until you have been married for one year to be eligible.
The truth is that there are exceptions to the rule; if you are the parent of your spouse's child, the one-year marriage requirement doesn't apply. There are also exceptions if you were previously entitled to certain Social Security or Railroad Retirement Act benefits in the month before the month you got married.
This is what US Social Security solves if you are divorced
If you are a divorced spouse, you may be entitled to benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years. Additionally, you must be at least 62 years old and not currently married. If you meet these requirements, you can receive up to 50% of your ex-spouse's benefit, as long as your own benefit is lower.
Your ex-spouse's marital status doesn't affect your right to receive benefits as a divorced spouse. However, if you remarry, you will generally lose the right to these benefits unless the new marriage ends in divorce, annulment, or death.
Why are there doubts about these requirements?
Many people are unaware of these rules and are surprised to learn that they must wait one year after marrying to receive benefits or that they need to have been married for 10 years to qualify as a divorced spouse. Additionally, the exceptions and specific conditions can cause confusion.
It is essential to understand the Social Security requirements related to marriage and divorce to properly plan your financial future. If you are considering getting married or are already married, make sure to know these rules to avoid surprises and maximize your benefits.
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