How Does Remarriage Affect Social Security Benefits After Divorce

Tim: I just want to touch on one topic if you’re going to claim the divorce spousal benefits what is the rule in regards to being getting remarried, you would loose it if you get remarried? Am I reading that correctly?

Janelle: Yes. If you remarried you can’t get this unless your second marriage ends into divorce. If your second marriage ends then if it was longer than ten years then you have a choice of whose you want to claim. You can claim either spouse.

Tim: So oh interesting! So I–you get divorced you’re collecting let’s say and you remarried that would terminate the collection of Social Security from the prior marriage?

Janelle: Yes, it would.

Tim: Okay. And then if they divorced again then they have—well they have to be married for at least another ten years?

Janelle: Right and then makes the action and if they do get divorced before ten years they can claim the first spouse’s social security.

Tim: They go back or either back and claim it.

Janelle: Right.

Tim: Okay.