Eligibility for Social Security Survivor Benefits?

Amber E.

October 18, 20170 found this helpful

If they were living together, and your State recognizes common law marriage then yes. If your State does not then no. Or if they have ever lived together in a State that does recognize common law marriage then yes.

coville123
Silver Post Medal for All Time! 433 Posts

October 13, 20170 found this helpful

Yes she can.

cybergrannie
Gold Feedback Medal for All Time! 949 Feedbacks

October 14, 20170 found this helpful

You do not say if there are children involved and if so, that may change the way Social Security would rule.

• Ex-girlfriends cannot receive SS survivor's benefits unless they can prove they were in a common-law-marriage and that marriage was in one of the 11 states that currently recognize common-law-marriages.
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• There are many rules that SS follows when awarding survival benefits and, unless children are involved, the person claiming benefits has to be retirement age.
• Some spousal benefits can be claimed when the surviving spouse reaches age 62 if they were married when the spouse died or they were married for 10 years before a divorce.

Sometimes questions like this can be asked over the SS 800 number or you can pay a visit to their office.

Judy
Gold Post Medal for All Time! 677 Posts

October 18, 20170 found this helpful

Social Security is the only one who can decide. She needs to make an appointment with them