Exploring the rules & options for how to handle the Social Security survivor benefit in the event of remarriage.

Today, we’re diving into a critical question: Will you lose your survivor Social Security benefits if you get remarried? There are more layers to this question than many people realize. Let’s peel these layers back and explore the options available for Social Security in remarriage.

When discussing Social Security, survivor benefits often stand out as a crucial decision point. Many people work hard to maximize these benefits for their spouses. However, mistakes can occur, sometimes due to errors by the Social Security Administration itself. Dr. Larry Kotlikoff, who appeared on our podcast back in the fall of 2022, has written a book on Social Security horror stories, many of which involve widows being underpaid. I’ll link to his book in the show notes so you can avoid such situations.

Here’s the scenario: a woman’s husband passed away at age 64 in 2017 while collecting Social Security disability benefits. She began collecting his benefits at age 64 because they were higher than her own. Now, at 70, she plans to remarry in August and wonders if she’ll still be able to collect these benefits.

Let’s assume this widow’s full retirement age (FRA) is 67. It’s crucial to understand the distinction between survivor benefits and spousal benefits. When it comes to survivor benefits, the amount you receive maxes out at your full retirement age. If you start collecting before reaching your FRA, you’ll receive a reduced amount.

For example, if her survivor benefit is $2,000 at FRA and she started collecting at age 64, she’d face a 20% reduction, receiving $1,600 instead. If her own benefit at FRA is $1,500, she wisely chose the higher survivor benefit.

The critical point here is remarriage and its impact on benefits. If you remarry before age 60, you lose your survivor benefits from your previous spouse. However, remarrying after age 60 allows you to keep these benefits. I recall a couple thanking me after a Social Security presentation because they learned that marrying after she turned 60 allowed her to retain her survivor benefits.

In this podcast’s example case, she’s already over 60, so her remarriage will not affect her survivor benefits. Additionally, once she’s been married for a year, she could potentially switch to her new spouse’s benefits, although this is unlikely to be beneficial compared to her current survivor benefits.

Here’s where many people miss out: While collecting survivor benefits, your own retirement benefit continues to grow. By delaying your own retirement benefits until age 70, you can receive an 8% increase per year up to your FRA.

Using our example, if her own benefit at FRA was $1,500, by waiting until 70, it could grow by 24% to $1,860. Therefore, at age 70, she should switch to her own retirement benefit if it exceeds her current survivor benefit.

Another client of mine faced a similar situation. She started collecting survivor benefits at age 62 and planned to switch to her own retirement benefits at age 70. Interestingly, at age 69, Social Security informed her she could receive a slightly higher amount by switching to her own benefit. However, by waiting just one more year until 70, she’d gain significantly more per month for the rest of her life.

This highlights the importance of considering all scenarios and benefits before making a decision. Using tools like the Social Security Analyzer can help ensure you maximize your benefits by evaluating all possible options.

Survivor and spousal benefits, along with the impact of remarriage, can be complex. It’s essential to understand all the nuances and coordinate your benefits effectively. When you have all the information, you can make the decision that makes the most sense for you and your new spouse.

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