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“Common Law Marriage” and Social Security - Yahoo! Finance
Social Security’s rules regarding spousal benefits are quite clear - to be eligible for benefits based on their partner’s lifetime earnings history, the couple must be “married.” It’s the definition of “married” which often catches people applying for Social Security spouse benefits, especially those whose relationship wasn’t solemnized in a traditional wedding ceremony. Such relationships are frequently referred to as “common law marriage.”
But can someone in a “common law” relationship receive spousal benefits from their partner? Well, yes, sometimes, as this Yahoo! Finance article by Brandon Renfro explains. But it’s important to know that Social Security goes entirely by state law regarding “common law marriage.” If the state the relationship was established in recognizes common law relationships as “married” then Social Security will abide by state laws. But only thirteen U.S. states now recognize common law marriage, so the rules can be somewhat tricky and, often, a common law relationship may not be viewed as a marriage by Social Security, meaning that spouse benefits may not be available. But if they are, this Yahoo! Finance article explains the process for applying. Click here to read more.
Also, if you’re unsure about how these basics apply to you, or if you have any questions about your individual situation under Social Security, note that the AMAC Foundation provides a free-to-the-public advisory service to help Americans navigate the complexities of this program. All questions are answered quickly, at no charge. Learn more about it here…
This posting is presented for informational purposes only and does not represent legal or financial guidance. Any opinions or interpretations presented are either those of the original author or, in the case of articles authored by the AMAC Foundation, are the opinions of AMAC Foundation staff, originally trained and accredited by the National Social Security Association (NSSA) and certified via the AMAC Foundation. Any links included in the article are valid on the posted date; socialsecurityreport.org cannot guarantee the duration of the links’ validity. NSSA and the AMAC Foundation and its staff are not affiliated with or endorsed by the Social Security Administration or any other governmental entity. To submit a question, visit our website (https://amacfoundation.org/services/) or email us at ssadvisor@amacfoundation.org. Because we are a non-profit organization, there is no charge for these services.