Q: If a widow and a widower who are both drawing Social Security survivors' benefits get married, are their respective benefits affected?-- RV, via email
A: It depends on how old they are.
If you remarry after age 60, you won't lose your widow or widower's benefit from a previous marriage -- a good reason to postpone the wedding bells if you're a year or two younger.
But remember, you can't collect more than one Social Security benefit at a time. If you become eligible for more than one benefit -- for example, in addition to a survivor's benefit based on a deceased spouse's record, you also now qualify for a spousal retirement benefit based on your new husband or wife's work record -- you'll receive the larger of the two amounts, not both.
Please send your questions to [email protected]. I'm sorry I can't respond personally to every email. Questions are only addressed online.
(c) Lynn Brenner, All Rights Reserved
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