Social security

[GP6971]

My wife and I were talking tonite and she said that in order to collect a survivors benefit, that the couple had to be married for 10 years.

This is news to me. Can anyone shed some light on this?

Thanks!

[TexasTowelie]

1. The ten year period is correct under most circumstances.

However if she is caring for a child 16 or younger or a disabled child then the length of marriage is waived. See page 6:

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf

[GP6971]

3. Thanks

Appreciate it !!!

[DLevine]

8. Ten years only applies if you are divorced,

collecting from a deceased ex-spouse. Otherwise, I believe it's 9 months.

[madokie]

10. Here is what I know

A good friend of mind lost his wife a couple years back from lung cancer. They'd been together for years but didn't marry until right before she found out she had lung cancer. She lived a couple years before she finally succumbed to the disease. a couple years later my friend became disabled due to a back injury and when he went to apply for SSDI they signed him up on his wifes SS and he began drawing a check almost immediately. After his application was accepted he was then switched to his SS. But he drew SSDI from his late wifes SS and it was almost instantaneous in his getting a SSDI check

At the most from the time they married and when he started drawing SSDI from her SS was no more than 3, maybe 4 years. This is the state of Oklahoma if that matters.

I never knew a happier couple in my life. Now he is having all kinds of health issues and no one save for myself and another friend he has no one. Only thing he has going for him is he has the VA for healthcare.

[tech3149]

2. I take it you haven't applied yet?

I should be getting my first payment next month, so it's pretty clear in my mind. In filling out the forms beyond reporting marital status you are also asked about previous marriages. This also includes date of wedding and divorce.
It just so happens that Thom Hartmann had a representative from Social Security Works and the topic was covered. So I believe your wife, as is usually the case, is right.

[GP6971]

4. I applied a couple of months ago. I have my official telephone interview

next month and my first check is due in January

[tech3149]

5. I did the application online

Mabey that's why I remember the point. That and having to go dig through the paperwork to refresh my memory.

[PoliticAverse]

6. BTW there's a Group on DU just for Social Security and Medicare questions....

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=forum&id=1261

[Tanuki]

7. No, the 10-year rule only applies to the eligibilty of someone who is divorced

to collect benefits earned by a deceased former spouse. And as it says in the link cited by another poster, if the surviving divorced spouse is caring for minor children, other rules will apply.
Couples in ordinary circumstances who meet the age and length of employment criteria need only have been married for 9 months to qualify for survivor benefits, and even that can be waived under certain conditions:
http://socialsecurityhop.com/en/handbook/04/0404-exception-to-nine-month-duration-of-marriage-requirement

[DLevine]

9. I believe post 7 is correct. nt