# SSR 69-4: SSR 69-4: Rescinded 1978 > Federal · Rulings · Rescinded URL: https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_69_4 ## Section - **Citation:** SSR 69-4 - **Heading:** SSR 69-4: Rescinded 1978 - **Jurisdiction:** Federal - **Kind:** Rulings - **Status:** Rescinded - **Text as of:** August 14, 2026 - **Source:** Compiled text - **Location:** Social Security Rulings / OASI / Widow(er)'s Insurance benefits / SSR 69-4 ## Text 20 CFR 404.1105 SSR 69-4 Where, under the court order for alimony, the worker's wife was awarded a fixed sum, payable in installments, and the period over which the payments should have been paid expired before the death of the worker, held , at the time of the worker's death there was no court order for support in effect within the meaning of section 202(e)(1)(D)(i) of the Social Security Act, despite the fact that at the time of the worker's death, he had failed to complete the payments and the unpaid amount was collectible. R and W were married in 1919 and were divorced in 1945 in the State of Kansas. In the divorce action, the court entered a judgment against R for $2,400 permanent alimony, payable $12.50 each week beginning September 22, 1945, and continuing until the full sum was paid. By dividing into the total payment the amount of each installment, it is readily determined that the support period ended in May 1949. R died in February 1955, at which time $500 of his payments to W had not been paid. In April 1966 W filed application for widow's insurance benefits as the surviving divorced wife of R. Section 216(d)(2) of the Act, as amended, provides that: The term "surviving divorced wife" means a woman divorced from an individual who has died, but only if she had been married to the individual for a period of 20 years immediately before the date the divorce became effective. Section 202(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended, provides among other requirements, that widow's insurance benefits may be payable to a surviving divorced wife if: (D) * * * there was in effect a court order for substantial contributions to her support from [the worker]... ried to the individual for a period of 20 years immediately before the date the divorce became effective. Section 202(e)(1) of the Social Security Act, as amended, provides among other requirements, that widow's insurance benefits may be payable to a surviving divorced wife if: (D) * * * there was in effect a court order for substantial contributions to her support from [the worker]... (i) at the time of his death . . . or (ii) at the time he became entitled to old-age insurance benefits or disability insurance benefits . . . Since the marriage had existed for more than 20 years before the divorce, W satisfies the definition in section 216(d)(2), supra. The question presented in this case is whether W, having met all other requirements for widow's insurance benefits, can satisfy the support requirement of section 202(e)(1)(D) of the Act. For a court order to come within the meaning of section 202(e)(1)(D) of the Act, the order must (1) be in effect at the time of the worker's death or entitlement and (2) require the worker to make substantial contributions to his divorced wife's support for that time. Where a court has ordered a specified amount of alimony to be paid in installments and the duration of the period for which the installments are payable is not stated in the order, the period can be determined by dividing the amount of the installments into the specified gross amount. If such time has expired at either the death or entitlement of the individual, whichever is applicable, a "court order for support" within the meaning of section 202(e)(1)(D) of the Act does not exist even though, at the applicable time, not all payments had been made and the unpaid balance was collectible. Accordingly, it is held that at the time of R's death there was not in effect a court order requiring him to contribute to W's support; therefore, W is not entitled to widow's insurance benefits. ## Nearby sections - [SSR 60-17 SSR 60-17. OLDEST RECORD DISAGREES WITH CONVINCING, MORE RECENT EVIDENCE OF AGE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_60_17.md) - [SSR 66-17c SSR 66-17c: SECTIONS 202(e)(1) and 202(j)(1). -- APPLICATION -- ORAL INQUIRY ABOUT BENEFITS -- NONESTOPPEL OF ADMINISTRATION](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_66_17c.md) - [SSR 67-8 SSR 67-8: SECTION 202(e) and 216(c). -- WIDOW'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- DEFINITION OF WIDOW -- ENTITLEMENT TO WIDOW'S INSURANCE ANNUITY UNDER RAILROAD RETIREMENT ACT IN MONTH BEFORE REMARRIAGE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_67_8.md) - [SSR 68-15 SSR 68-15: Rescinded 1978](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_15.md) - [SSR 68-16 SSR 68-16: Rescinded 1978](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_16.md) - [SSR 68-71 SSR 68-71: Rescinded 1978](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_68_71.md) - [SSR 69-4 SSR 69-4: Rescinded 1978](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_69_4.md) - [SSR 70-19c SSR 70-19c: SECTION 202(e) (1). -- REMARRIAGE BEFORE AGE 60 -- ESTOPPEL -- RELIANCE BY WIDOW ON INFORMATION FROM AN OFFICIAL SOURCE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_70_19c.md) - [SSR 71-21c SSR 71-21c: SECTIONS 202(e) and 216(c)(5). -- WIDOW'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- "DURATION OF MARRIAGE" REQUIREMENT -- CONSTITUTIONALITY OF STATE'S NONRECOGNITION OF COMMON-LAW MARRIAGES](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_71_21c.md) - [SSR 71-52 SSR 71-52: Sections 202(e)(1) (42 U.S.C. 402(e)(1) — Filing For All Benefits — Widow's Insurance Benefits](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_71_52.md) - [SSR 72-3 SSR 72-3: SECTIONS 202(e)(1) and 216(h)(1)(A) (42 U.S.C.A. 402(E)(1) and 416(h)(1)(A)). -- RELATIONSHIP -- VALIDITY OF DIVORCE OBTAINED OUTSIDE OF STATE](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_72_3.md) - [SSR 72-4c SSR 72-4c: SECTIONS 202(e) and 223 (42 U.S.C. 402(e) and 42 U.S.C. 423). -- DISABLED WIDOW'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- SEVERITY OF IMPAIRMENT -- ABILITY TO ENGAGE IN ANY GAINFUL ACTIVITY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_72_4c.md) - [SSR 72-52 SSR 72-52: SECTIONS 202(e) and 216(c)(5) (42 U.S.C. 402(e) and 416(c)(5). -- WIDOW'S INSURANCE BENEFITS -- "DURATION OF MARRIAGE" REQUIREMENT](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_72_52.md) - [SSR 72-55 SSR 72-55c: SECTIONS 202(e)(1) and 205(c)(5)(A) and (B) (42 U.S.C. 402(e)(1) and 405(c)(5)(A) and (B)). -- REVISION OF EARNINGS RECORD AFTER "FINAL DECISION" -- TIME LIMITATION -- CONSTITUTIONALITY](https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_72_55.md) --- Source: Frix Law Library, https://www.frixlaw.com/law-library/statutes/SSA_SSR_OASI_SSR_69_4. Check the current official text before relying on it. Not legal advice.