Does marriage affect eligibility for Social Security benefits?

Yes, marriage affects eligibility for Social Security benefits in Washington. In order to be eligible for Social Security benefits, married couples must meet two criteria in the state of Washington. First, both partners must be at least 62 years of age. Second, one partner must have contributed to Social Security through their wages. If one partner has paid into Social Security, they may still be eligible to receive benefits even if their spouse has not. However, the amount they receive will be lower than if both partners had contributed to Social Security. In some cases, the lower-earning spouse may be able to receive up to 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s Social Security benefits amount. Married couples can also receive spousal benefits if one partner is eligible for Social Security benefits and the other partner is not. In this case, the lower-earning spouse can be eligible to receive up to 50% of the higher-earning spouse’s benefit amount. In addition, Social Security benefits may be passed down to the surviving spouse if one partner passes away before the other. The surviving spouse will then receive the full amount that the deceased partner was receiving at the time of death, or if the amount was higher, the surviving partner can receive the deceased partner’s benefit amount. Overall, marriage can have a significant effect on eligibility for Social Security benefits in Washington. As such, it’s important for married couples to be aware of the eligibility requirements and potential benefits of married Social Security recipients.

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Does marriage affect eligibility for Social Security benefits?

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