Effective Dates: 07/26/2023 - Present Previous | Next

TN 56 (07-23)

GN 00205.070 RSDI Applications - Marital Relationship Questions

A. Background

In an effort to streamline the marriage documentation policy, effective September 27, 2008, only document on the application marriage history from the claimant if it could result in entitlement or requires proof of termination, e.g., a divorced spouse married after their marriage to the number holder (NH).

B. Procedure - Discussion during an in-person or telephone claims interview

The instructions regarding discussing the claimant’s complete marital history to identify benefit entitlement and situations where additional documentation and evidence is required is unchanged. For iClaims situations, please see GN 00204.055L.

We ask marital information to determine eligibility for various benefits (i.e. spouse’s, widow(er)’s, etc.). See also instructions in GN 00205.145 through GN 00205.160. For a full discussion of proof of marital relationship, see GN 00305.000.

C. Procedure - Documentation

Document only the following marriages on Title II applications:

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    the current marriage;

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    marriages that lasted 10 years or longer (includes multiple consecutive marriages to the same individual if the combined period totals 10 years or more as described in RS 00202.005A.);

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    marriages that ended by spouse’s death (regardless of duration);

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    marriages that require proof of termination (i.e., divorced spouse eligibility is dependent on marital status)

Note: 

 When taking a child's claim, the marriage of the NH to the child's parent must be recorded even if it lasted less than 10 years.

D. Procedure - Completion of Modernized Claims System (MCS) screens

Until the MCS screens (as shown in GN 00205.070D.2. in this section) are changed, follow these operating procedures.

1. EVER MARRIED (Y/N) question

The EVER MARRIED (Y/N) question on MCS’ Identification 1 (IDEN) and Number Holder Identification (NHID) screens now means asking:

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    Are you currently married?

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    Did you have any previous marriage that lasted 10 or more years (includes multiple consecutive marriages to the same individual if the combined period totals 10 years or more per RS 00202.005A.) or that ended by your spouse’s death?; also if eligibility is dependent on claimant being unmarried, ask if they remarried after divorcing the NH. If yes, ask for their last marriage information (regardless of duration).

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    If yes to either of these questions, input “Y” to EVER MARRIED and document the marriage(s) per GN 00205.070D.2. in this section.

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    Otherwise input “N” to EVER MARRIED.

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    When taking a child's claim, the marriage of the NH to the child's parent must be recorded even if it lasted less than 10 years.

2. NH Marriage (NH MAR) and Beneficiary Marriage (BMAR) screens

Document only marriages listed in GN 00205.070C. in this section, on the appropriate screen.

E. Application summary

The marriage universal text identifiers (UTI) on the MCS and Internet claims printed application summary have been revised to reflect the change in marriage documentation.

1. Claimant never married (UTI CA017M)

The paragraph that read, “I HAVE NEVER MARRIED.”, now reads, “I NEVER MARRIED OR I HAD NO PREVIOUS MARRIAGES THAT LASTED 10 YEARS OR MORE OR ENDED IN DEATH.”

2. Claimant is currently married and had no previous marriages (UTI CAO19M)

The paragraph that read, “I WAS NOT PREVIOUSLY MARRIED.”, now reads, “I HAD NO PREVIOUS MARRIAGES THAT LASTED 10 YEARS OR MORE, OR ENDED IN DEATH.”

F. Procedure - Paper claim application

Until paper applications are changed, document only the marriages listed in GN 00205.070C. in this section.

G. Reminders

Continue to follow leads and protective filing closeout policy per GN 00202.020, GN 00204.010 and GN 00204.012 for the marriages that are required to be documented as described in GN 00205.070C.

If the claimant wants to receive payment at an address different from the number holder’s (NH) but alleges their marital relationship is the same, develop per RS 00202.070.

H. References

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    GN 00204.010 - Protective Filing

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    GN 00204.020 - Scope of the Application

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    GN 00204.022 - Explore Entitlement on Another Earnings Record or to Another Class of Benefits

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    GN 00204.055 - Internet Claim (iClaim) Application

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    GN 00305.000 - Proof of Marital Relationship

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    RS 00202.001 - Spouse

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    RS 00202.050 - Spouse’s Benefits – Evidence and Forms Requirements

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    RS 00207.001 - Widow(er)'s Benefits Definitions and Requirements

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    RS 00208.001 - Mother/Father

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    RS 00208.005 - Child-in-Care

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    RS 00208.010 - Surviving Divorced Mother/Father

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    RS 00209.001 - Parent's Benefits - Entitlement and Non-Entitlement Provisions

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    RS 00209.005 - Parent's Benefits - Marriage

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    RS 00615.210 - Reduced Spouse's Benefit Where the Family Maximum is Involved

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    RS 00615.682 - Family Benefits Where a Divorced Spouse or a Surviving Divorced Spouse is Entitled

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    RS 00615.756 - Adjusting Benefits for the Family Maximum (FMAX)

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    MSOM INTRANETMAPS 005.009 - MAPS Application Summary (ATAS)

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    MSOM COMMON 005.007 - Beneficiary Marriage (BMAR)

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    MSOM MCS 005.037 - NH Marriage (NMAR)

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    MSOM MCS 005.059 - Identification 1 (IDEN)

To Link to this section - Use this URL:
http://policy.ssa.gov/poms.nsf/lnx/0200205070
GN 00205.070 - RSDI Applications - Marital Relationship Questions - 07/26/2023
Batch run: 09/12/2025
Rev:07/26/2023