If a couple moves to a state that does not recognize common law marriage after living in a state that does, what happens to their marital status?

The correct answer indicates that the couple retains their marital status for Social Security Administration (SSA) purposes. This is important because the SSA recognizes common law marriages that were legally established in states that recognize such unions, even if the couple later moves to a state that does not recognize common law marriage.

The reason for this retention is that federal statutes, including those governing Social Security, aim to ensure that individuals who were legally married, according to the laws of the state in which they established their marriage, are granted the same rights and benefits regardless of their current state of residence. This approach preserves the legal rights associated with their marital status, as the couple's original union was valid under the laws of the state where it was formed.

In contrast, the other options suggest scenarios that do not accurately reflect the recognition of common law marriages by the SSA. For example, losing marital status or needing to reapply for recognition does not apply since the marriage is already recognized. Additionally, the length of time spent in the first state does not affect their ongoing marital status at the federal level, especially concerning SSA benefits.