|
Social Security Question for Divorcee
02-21-2019, 06:34 AM
|
#1
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Suburbs of Mpls
Posts: 272
|
Social Security Question for Divorcee
This is a question for someone I know.
Lady I know was married. She was a stay-at-home mom. Husband worked.
When kids were late teenagers they got divorced. (Now about 15-20 years ago).
Ten years ago she met a new man. They've been together since.
New man evidently earned less during his career (and is currently still working at retirement age on his own business, but it doesn't yield great income).
Despite their normal desire to marry, lady says she cannot marry the new guy because her cut of social security will decrease, where right now she would get half the total amount of her ex-husband. If she gets married, she will evidently get a smaller share due to the difference in income earned by the two men.
Does this sound right or is there a misunderstanding here?
|
|
|
|
Join the #1 Early Retirement and Financial Independence Forum Today - It's Totally Free!
Are you planning to be financially independent as early as possible so you can live life on your own terms? Discuss successful investing strategies, asset allocation models, tax strategies and other related topics in our online forum community. Our members range from young folks just starting their journey to financial independence, military retirees and even multimillionaires. No matter where you fit in you'll find that Early-Retirement.org is a great community to join. Best of all it's totally FREE!
You are currently viewing our boards as a guest so you have limited access to our community. Please take the time to register and you will gain a lot of great new features including; the ability to participate in discussions, network with our members, see fewer ads, upload photographs, create a retirement blog, send private messages and so much, much more!
|
02-21-2019, 06:53 AM
|
#2
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,993
|
It's worth checking into. In my conversations with SSA they never mentioned anything about cutting my social security should I remarry. It was simply based on the fact I had been married more than 10 years. That said, I was not able to collect on my ex-husbands social security as my own was more than half of his.
I wonder if it has anything to do with her second marriage also lasting 10 years should she marry where she might go against both? In that case, it may be that social security will reduce one when or if the other becomes effective? Logic tells me she doesn't have to claim against the 2nd but what do I know. Social security may have a cap on what she is able to get whether it is from one or two.
Perhaps others can weigh in.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 07:05 AM
|
#3
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Suburbs of Mpls
Posts: 272
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by sheehs1
It's worth checking into. In my conversations with SSA they never mentioned anything about cutting my social security should I remarry. It was simply based on the fact I had been married more than 10 years. That said, I was not able to collect on my ex-husbands social security as my own was more than half of his.
I wonder if it has anything to do with her second marriage also lasting 10 years should she marry where she might go against both? In that case, it may be that social security will reduce one when or if the other becomes effective? Logic tells me she doesn't have to claim against the 2nd but what do I know. Social security may have a cap on what she is able to get whether it is from one or two.
Perhaps others can weigh in.
|
She said from talking with some, essentially they told her...
If she retires at age X, she will get $700 to her own name. Her ex-husband's will get her to $1500 per month.
If she gets married, she wouldn't get the $800 bridge to the $1500. (Her ex's amount is $3,000 so she gets half that amount).
I'm not sure if she is misunderstanding something or if she really feels she is actually taking "Half" the amount of her ex-husband.
Evidently the thought is her new guy must have a lower SSN $ amount. Say $2,000. Her worry would be that if she re-marries, she would then only get a bridge to half of the $2,000 which would be $300 more to her current $700 base for a total of $1,000.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 07:58 AM
|
#4
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Coronado
Posts: 3,655
|
Here's the answer straight from the horse's mouth:
https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/divspouse.html
Quote:
If you remarry, you generally cannot collect benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage ends (whether by death, divorce, or annulment).
|
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 08:08 AM
|
#5
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Suburbs of Mpls
Posts: 272
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by cathy63
|
So she shouldn't re-marry from a financial perspective.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 08:15 AM
|
#6
|
Full time employment: Posting here.
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 594
|
I think there is an exception if you remarry after 60. (off to look it up)
"Also, your remarriage after age 60 does not prevent you from becoming entitled to benefits on your prior deceased spouse’s Social Security earnings record"
https://blog.ssa.gov/will-remarriage...rity-benefits/
__________________
.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 08:32 AM
|
#8
|
Moderator
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 9,070
|
My reading seems to say that the Ex needs to have passed. I don’t think that’s the case here. Do think she can re-marry and retain Exe’s benefit until Ex passes.
__________________
Every day when I open my eyes now it feels like a Saturday - David Gray
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 08:33 AM
|
#9
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,130
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by lemming
I think there is an exception if you remarry after 60. (off to look it up)
"Also, your remarriage after age 60 does not prevent you from becoming entitled to benefits on your prior deceased spouse’s Social Security earnings record"
https://blog.ssa.gov/will-remarriage...rity-benefits/
|
This is for survivor's benefit. Notice the word "deceased".
https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/divspouse.html
__________________
And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.- Desiderata by Max Ehrmann
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 08:37 AM
|
#10
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,130
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by bizlady
|
This is only talking about when a widow can remarry without jeopardizing prior spouse's benefits. That doesn't sound like the case here.
__________________
And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.- Desiderata by Max Ehrmann
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 08:50 AM
|
#11
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Mar 2013
Location: Coronado
Posts: 3,655
|
"Divorced spouse" and "surviving divorced spouse" are two different categories of beneficiaries.
I was assuming that the lady in question is a "divorced spouse" when I posted the link above, but it's true that we don't really have enough information to know whether that's the case.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 09:12 AM
|
#12
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Feb 2007
Posts: 9,939
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dd564
She said from talking with some, essentially they told her...
If she retires at age X, she will get $700 to her own name. Her ex-husband's will get her to $1500 per month.
If she gets married, she wouldn't get the $800 bridge to the $1500. (Her ex's amount is $3,000 so she gets half that amount).
I'm not sure if she is misunderstanding something or if she really feels she is actually taking "Half" the amount of her ex-husband.
Evidently the thought is her new guy must have a lower SSN $ amount. Say $2,000. Her worry would be that if she re-marries, she would then only get a bridge to half of the $2,000 which would be $300 more to her current $700 base for a total of $1,000.
|
The principle is true but lots of moving parts, for example she would get half of the ex's benefit at FRA..the payout does not rise for age deferred credit. To get the entire amount she needs to wait until she is FRA. Taking it early would lower the number. It's a factor but maybe not the only factor as to why she doesn't choose to marry...
The survivor benefit could a bigger issue and yet it could give her a thousand extra dollars a month, depending on when the ex claims his benefit.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 09:27 AM
|
#13
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,508
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dd564
So she shouldn't re-marry from a financial perspective.
|
If she wants to base her marriage plans solely on the potential social security benefits, then that is correct.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 11:03 AM
|
#14
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Jun 2014
Location: Suburbs of Mpls
Posts: 272
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by joeea
If she wants to base her marriage plans solely on the potential social security benefits, then that is correct.
|
This is her current plan.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 11:16 AM
|
#15
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: West of the Mississippi
Posts: 17,134
|
I know a lady in just that circumstance. Her first husband was a big earner - always well into six figures, paid the maximum SS tax each year. She was a stay at home mom most of her life, but did work about 10 years after the divorce.
Even if she delays SS to 70, her SS account payment will not exceed 1/2 of her ex-hubby's. If she remarries and the ex is not deceased, she loses the right to collect on her ex's account. So she stays single. That is not a problem as most women I know over a 'certain age' don't want to get married again anyway. SS is just one of many factors that makes getting married late in life problematic.
__________________
Comparison is the thief of joy
The worst decisions are usually made in times of anger and impatience.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 02:38 PM
|
#16
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Aug 2013
Location: North
Posts: 4,022
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dd564
So she shouldn't re-marry from a financial perspective.
|
Precisely. I know a women whos ex-husband is in nursing care, and she just keeps 'Joe' as her boyfriend for exactly this reason. Her ex-husband, elbeit incapacitated, yields more SS money than if she remarried the new guy.
Doesn't change the fact they love eachother though.
__________________
Time > $$$ ~ 100% equities ~ FIRE @2031
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 03:00 PM
|
#17
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Nov 2010
Location: Sarasota, FL & Vermont
Posts: 36,201
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dd564
This is a question for someone I know.
Lady I know was married. She was a stay-at-home mom. Husband worked.
When kids were late teenagers they got divorced. (Now about 15-20 years ago).
Ten years ago she met a new man. They've been together since.
New man evidently earned less during his career (and is currently still working at retirement age on his own business, but it doesn't yield great income).
Despite their normal desire to marry, lady says she cannot marry the new guy because her cut of social security will decrease, where right now she would get half the total amount of her ex-husband. If she gets married, she will evidently get a smaller share due to the difference in income earned by the two men.
Does this sound right or is there a misunderstanding here?
|
That sounds right.
__________________
If something cannot endure laughter.... it cannot endure.
Patience is the art of concealing your impatience.
Slow and steady wins the race.
Retired Jan 2012 at age 56
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 03:59 PM
|
#18
|
gone traveling
Join Date: Mar 2015
Posts: 3,508
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by dd564
This is her current plan.
|
Sounds like a plan then. At least until 60. Hopefully he'll be willing to go along with the plan.
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 05:16 PM
|
#19
|
Thinks s/he gets paid by the post
Join Date: Jun 2010
Posts: 2,130
|
It doesn't make any difference if she's 60 or 90. If she remarries (no matter what age) before her ex-spouse is deceased, she cannot claim spousal SS. And then, she will have to wait until BOTH spouses are deceased, or she divorces the new spouse before she would have the opportunity to claim the higher benefit.
__________________
And whatever your labors and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.- Desiderata by Max Ehrmann
|
|
|
02-21-2019, 08:31 PM
|
#20
|
Give me a museum and I'll fill it. (Picasso) Give me a forum ...
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: Hooverville
Posts: 22,983
|
Quote:
Originally Posted by MissMolly
It doesn't make any difference if she's 60 or 90. If she remarries (no matter what age) before her ex-spouse is deceased, she cannot claim spousal SS. And then, she will have to wait until BOTH spouses are deceased, or she divorces the new spouse before she would have the opportunity to claim the higher benefit.
|
Well, I definitely hope that this charming lady will keep her eye on the bouncing ball and manage to get the max money from her period of providing joy to her husbands or whatever they were.
I am coming to think that any woman who boinks a man should thereafter get 2/3 of his SS, paid by the SSA. Hey, it's only fair. And it should help us old guys get more sex once the word gets out.
Ha
__________________
"As a general rule, the more dangerous or inappropriate a conversation, the more interesting it is."-Scott Adams
|
|
|
|
Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
|
|
Thread Tools |
|
Display Modes |
Linear Mode
|
Posting Rules
|
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts
HTML code is Off
|
|
|
|
» Recent Threads
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
» Quick Links
|
|
|