When to Consult a Financial Professional
While basic Social Security rules are straightforward, real-life family histories often create complex financial situations. Consulting a fee-only financial planner or a certified public accountant (CPA) makes practical sense in several specific scenarios:
- You Have Multiple Prior Marriages Lasting 10+ Years: If you were married to more than one person for at least 10 years each, calculating which ex-spouse’s record yields the maximum payout—and how remarriage affects each option—requires comparative benefit analysis.
- You Are Planning a Wedding Near Age 60: A financial professional can help you structure your wedding date, financial accounts, and claiming timing so you don’t accidentally forfeit high-value survivor benefits.
- You Face Government Pension Offset (GPO) Rules: If you worked for a local, state, or federal government entity where you did not pay Social Security taxes, receiving a public pension will trigger GPO rules, which can reduce or eliminate spousal or survivor benefits regardless of remarriage status.
- Your Household Combined Income Triggers Tax Penalties: Integrating IRAs, 401(k) required minimum distributions (RMDs), and joint Social Security payments requires careful tax-bracket management to avoid unnecessary taxation.
“Small timing errors in retirement planning can produce massive tax and benefit penalties over a twenty-year horizon.” — Ed Slott, CPA and Retirement Expert
If I Remarriage and my spouse get a SSI check can we live together and still get a check
That would be “If I remarry,” not “If I remarriage.” If you get your check based on your own income, no problem. If it is based on your ex-spouse’s income, it’s a big problem in most cases. It only counts whether you are remarried or not. It doesn’t matter whether or not you live together.
I was married 20yrs, divorced then several yrs later remarried & divorced within the same year. Will that affect me drawing from my prior husbands SS? Does the prior ex-spouse have to be retirement age for me to draw on his SS? I am 4 yrs older than him.
I’m retired my wife be retiring i. 2 years she will receive her ssi i will receive mine correct
No. I found out the hard way
If you collect railroad retirement, you do not get a social security survivor benefit. Do you?
Divorced after 11 years of marriage. Now living with a partner for 42 years. If we Marry will I lose my Social security from my first Marriage ? What will my social be if she passes.
What if you married but not together how does that work
My husband passed away and i get his ss if i get married do i lose that
My wife died two years ago. I claimed her social security since it’s greater than my social security benefit. My question is if I remained but my future wife doesn’t received Social security at all, if I die will she be entitled to my social security benefit?