10 Strange Social Security Facts Everyone Should Know

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.