4. Multiple ex-spouses can get benefits if they qualify
If you were married for 10 years before divorcing, your ex-spouse can claim benefits based on your work history. What many don’t realize is that those benefits apply to each ex-spouse you have as long as each marriage met the 10-year rule.
So multiple ex-spouses can claim benefits — all without having any impact on what a current spouse might be entitled to receive.
5. Remarrying sometimes affects your benefits – but not always
Those who were previously married and collect spousal or survivor benefits based on the former spouse’s work history have to be careful about the impact of remarrying.
If you’re getting spousal benefits based on a living former spouse’s work history, then those benefits generally stop when you remarry.
However, for those getting survivor benefits based on a deceased former spouse’s work history, benefits disappear only if you remarry before turning 60. Once you’re 60 or older, you can remarry and still hang onto those survivor benefits.
6. Being in prison suspends Social Security benefits
The SSA suspends Social Security benefits if you’re convicted of a criminal offense that sends you to jail for 30 days or more. You’re allowed to have your benefits reinstated once you’re released, but that generally won’t be done automatically.
Fortunately, benefits payable to a spouse, children, or other eligible recipients on your work record aren’t affected by your incarceration.