I am 68 retired. I plan on getting married. how will this affect my benefits?

Hi,

The answer to that question depends on what type of benefits you receive. If you receive Social Security benefits based on your own work record, or if you receive widow's benefits or surviving divorced spousal benefits, then nothing will change with regard to your Social Security benefits if you get married. You may even become eligible for higher benefits on your new spouse's account depending on the benefit rates involved.

However, if you receive divorced spousal benefits on the account of a living ex-spouse, those benefits would be terminated if you remarry unless your new spouse is receiving certain types of auxiliary or survivor benefits from Social Security (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0300202045). Disabled adult child's benefits are also terminated due to marriage unless the beneficiary's spouse is receiving certain types of Social Security benefits (https://secure.ssa.gov/apps10/poms.nsf/lnx/0300203035).

You may want to consider using our maximization software to explore what changes (if any) and possible new options that a marriage could create for your and your new spouse.

Best, Jerry