At some point in every divorce, the issue of how to divide the assets must be asked. This can be done by the parties or decided by the Judge and applies to possessions and furniture as well as intangible assets like bank accounts and retirements. Let’s start by posing a question that some of our readers here in San Diego might be asking themselves at this very moment: can a divorce affect Social Security payments? The answer to this question is yes.
According to the Social Security Administration, a spouse can qualify for survivor benefits after being married for nine months. After a year of marriage, they qualify for spousal benefits. Unfortunately, if the couple gets a divorce before ten years, the ex-spouse does not qualify for either benefit. Remarrying before age 60 can actually affect whether you can collect survivor benefits if your former spouse dies.
While many of the questions people have about SSA benefits can be easily answered through the administration’s website, questions involving marriage and divorce can complicate things. Getting straightforward answers from the website might be difficult and seeking the help from a skilled lawyer might be necessary. In the end, it’s all about considering what can affect you and getting the help you need in order to sort out the problems.
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