I am 49 yrs old, was married for 20 yrs. I am engaged to be married but have been being told, especially by men that if I remarry at all I cannot collect against my ex husbands benefits, He makes a lot more money than my fiance or I, and I see/realize that I have to be single by the time I am 62 in order to claim against his. The wording I keep finding is very confusing. My question is, can I remarry and will it make it so I cannot collect against my ex? Thank you in advance for your consideration.

Hi,

If you remarry, you will not be able to receive benefits on your ex-spouse's record for as long as your remarriage continues (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0311.html). A remarriage would not, however, bar you from potentially receiving benefits on your ex's record in the future if your remarriage ends in death or divorce.

If you remarry after age 60, you could claim surviving divorced spousal benefits if your ex dies, but you could still not receive divorced spousal benefits as long as you are remarried and your ex is living.

Best, Jerry