Can you collect Social Security from two husbands?

Yes, you can potentially collect Social Security benefits from two husbands, but you can't receive two full benefits; you'll get the higher amount between your own record, your first husband's (if married 10+ years and divorced/widowed), and your second husband's (if current/widowed/divorced), with specific rules for divorced spousal benefits, widow benefits, and deemed filing. The Social Security Administration (SSA) determines the best combination, usually by choosing the highest possible benefit you're eligible for, such as your own, a spousal benefit on a current or ex-husband's record, or a survivor benefit.

Can a divorced wife collect her ex-husband's Social Security?

Yes, a divorced wife can collect her ex-husband's Social Security if married at least 10 years, is currently unmarried, and the ex is at least 62 (or already receiving benefits) and you've been divorced for 2 years, receiving up to 50% of his benefit, without affecting his or his new spouse's payments. You get the higher of your own or the spousal benefit, and if he dies, you can get survivor benefits.
 

What is the maximum Social Security benefit for a married couple?

The maximum Social Security for a married couple in 2025 is around $10,216/month, or double the individual max of $5,108 if both spouses earned the maximum taxable amount for 35 years and waited until age 70 to claim; however, this isn't a combined limit but the sum of two individual maximums, with the actual combined amount varying by claiming ages and earnings, and strategies can maximize benefits. 

Does a spouse's income affect Social Security?

A spouse's income generally doesn't affect your own Social Security retirement benefit, as it's based on your earnings; however, their income can impact spousal or survivor benefits, potentially triggering earnings limit reductions if they claim early, and combined income affects taxability, but high earner's income doesn't directly reduce the other spouse's earned benefit. 

Does a widow get 100% of her husband's Social Security?

Yes, you can get up to 100% of your deceased husband's Social Security benefit if you've reached your own Full Retirement Age (FRA) for survivors (age 67 for most); otherwise, you'll get a reduced amount (starting around 71.5% at age 60) or a full benefit if caring for a young child, with the exact amount depending on your age, his earnings, and when he claimed. 

Can you collect Social Security from two husbands?

Do married couples get two Social Security checks?

Yes, married couples generally receive two separate Social Security checks, one for each spouse based on their own earnings record, or a higher spousal benefit if it's more than their own, but they don't get both amounts added together; the system pays the higher benefit, not double. Each person can collect their own retirement benefit, and if one spouse earns significantly less (or nothing), they can claim up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit, but the final payment is the greater of the two, not the combined sum. 

Can I collect both my Social Security and my deceased spouse's?

No, you can't collect both your own Social Security retirement benefit and your deceased spouse's benefit separately; the Social Security Administration (SSA) will pay you the higher of the two amounts, but not the sum, AARP. You can receive your own benefit plus an additional amount that brings your total payment up to the higher survivor benefit, but it's always a single payment based on the largest possible benefit you're eligible for. 

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

Claiming Benefits Too Early

One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.

What are the rules for collecting your spouse's Social Security?

To collect your spouse's Social Security, you generally must be at least 62 (or any age if caring for a qualifying child under 16 or disabled) and your spouse must already be receiving their own benefits; you'll get the higher amount of your own earned benefit or up to 50% of your spouse's benefit, but claiming early reduces the spousal amount, and you can even collect as a divorced spouse if married at least 10 years and meet other rules.
 

What's the difference between survivor & widow benefits?

What's the difference between survivor benefits and widow's benefits? Widow's benefits are one type of survivor benefit—one that only widows and widowers can claim. Survivor benefits is a broader category that allows other relatives to claim benefits.

How much do you have to make to get $3,000 a month in Social Security?

To get around $3,000/month in Social Security, you generally need a high earning history, around $100,000-$108,000+ annually over your top 35 years, but waiting to claim until age 70 maximizes this amount, potentially reaching it with lower yearly earnings, say under $70k if you wait long enough, as benefits are based on your highest indexed earnings over 35 years. The exact amount depends heavily on your specific earnings history and the age you start collecting benefits. 

What is the best Social Security strategy for married couples?

Social Security tips for couples

• A couple with similar incomes and ages and long life expectancies may want to consider maximizing lifetime benefits by both delaying their claim.
• For couples with big differences in earnings, consider claiming the spousal benefit, which may be better than claiming your own.

Are Social Security checks worth a maximum of $5108?

Maximum benefits will rise by more than $1,700 a year

Alongside the COLA boost, the maximum benefit an individual can receive is also increasing. It will climb from $5,108 per month this year to $5,251 each month in 2026.

Can I stop my ex-wife from getting my Social Security?

This is good news when former spouses are not on good terms. Your ex cannot “block” you from drawing your spousal benefit. In fact, he probably won't even know if you are drawing off him unless he calls SSA to ask.

Can my ex-wife take my Social Security if I remarry?

Yes, your ex-wife can get your Social Security benefits even if you remarry, as long as she meets eligibility rules (married 10+ years, unmarried, age 62+) and your benefit is higher than her own, because divorced spouse benefits are based on your record, not your new spouse's. Remarriage typically ends these benefits, but exceptions exist, and she can still claim survivor benefits on your record if you pass away, even if you're remarried (if she's 60+, or 50+ if disabled). 

What is the Social Security spousal benefits loophole?

The "Social Security spousal benefits loophole" referred to strategies like "file and suspend" and "restricted application" that allowed couples to maximize benefits by having the higher earner suspend their own claim (after full retirement age) so the lower earner could claim a spousal benefit, while the higher earner's benefit grew, but these were largely closed by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 for most new applicants, making it harder to get spousal benefits without also claiming your own. A separate, lesser-known "loophole" exists for caregivers of disabled children, allowing a parent (often the mother) to receive spousal benefits earlier than usual.
 

What is the new law for Social Security spousal benefits?

The biggest recent change for spousal benefits is the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) of 2023, effective January 2024, which eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) for many, meaning spouses and survivors with government pensions won't have their benefits reduced as much, if at all. Key rules remain: spouses can get up to 50% of the primary earner's benefit, can claim at 62 (with reductions), or care for a qualifying child (no reduction). Deemed filing still means applying for one benefit usually means applying for both.
 

Can a divorced woman collect her ex-husband's Social Security?

Yes, a divorced woman can often collect Social Security benefits on an ex-husband's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, she's unmarried, and she's at least 62 (or caring for his child), receiving up to 50% of his benefit, which doesn't reduce his or his current spouse's payment. Eligibility rules are gender-neutral and apply even if the ex remarried or hasn't applied yet, but claiming early (before full retirement age) results in reduced benefits. 

Why would spousal benefits be denied?

Common reasons for denial:

Your deceased spouse must have earned a certain number of credits for you to qualify for benefits. The SSA offers a handy calculator to determine the required credits. Remarriage before age 60: Remarrying before age 60 usually makes you ineligible for benefits.

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security benefits?

You can lose Social Security benefits by working while collecting early, leading to earnings limits; incarceration, which suspends payments; or through garnishment for federal debts like taxes, student loans, or child support, along with other factors like remarriage or changes in disability status. 

What is the $1000 a month rule for retirement?

The $1,000 a month retirement rule is a simple guideline stating you need about $240,000 saved for every $1,000 of monthly income you want from your investments in retirement, based on a 5% annual withdrawal rate ($240k x 0.05 / 12 = $1k/month). It's a motivational tool to estimate savings goals (e.g., $3,000/month needs $720k), but it's one-dimensional, doesn't account for inflation, taxes, or other income like Social Security, and assumes steady 5% returns, making a personalized plan essential. 

What does Suze Orman say about when to take Social Security?

Suze Orman strongly advises waiting as long as possible to claim Social Security, ideally until age 70, to maximize your monthly benefit, explaining that delaying provides a significant guaranteed annual increase (around 8%) and offers crucial inflation protection for a longer retirement. While some suggest claiming at 62 and investing the money, Orman counters that most people don't invest it and end up with less income long-term, emphasizing that a higher monthly check with cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) is a better, more secure financial tool, especially for the surviving spouse. 

Can two spouses collect Social Security at the same time?

Yes, both spouses can collect Social Security, either from their own work records or by claiming spousal benefits on the other's record (up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit at full retirement age), with the Social Security Administration (SSA) always paying the higher benefit if a spouse is eligible for both, and strategies exist to maximize combined benefits by coordinating filing ages. 

What not to do after your spouse dies?

When your spouse dies, don't make major decisions quickly, don't rush to distribute assets or cancel vital services, and don't ignore your own emotional needs, as grief impairs judgment; instead, focus on immediate practicalities like securing documents and getting legal advice, while delaying big choices about selling property, changing jobs, or closing accounts until you've had time to process and consult professionals.
 

Do widows get two Social Security checks?

An individual can only receive one set of benefits at a time. If both spouses receive Social Security, the surviving spouse will get the larger benefit, not both. This can lead to a significant income loss when one spouse dies, so planning ahead to maximize the surviving spouse's benefits is important.