Disability, General, Retirement, Survivors

Ex-Spouse Benefits and You

May 14, 2015 • By

Reading Time: 2 Minutes

Last Updated: March 28, 2022

A worried woman holds her ring finger- she's been through a divorce.No doubt about it — thinking of an ex-spouse can be emotional. And, if your finances have changed for the worse since the breakup, even more emotions can surface.

We have news that may relieve some of your stress.

If you are age 62, unmarried, and divorced from someone entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you may be eligible to receive benefits based on their record.

There are other rules, of course. You must have been married to your ex-spouse for 10 years or more. If you’ve remarried, you can’t collect benefits on your former spouse’s record unless your later marriage ended by annulment, divorce, or death. Also, if you’re entitled to benefits on your own record, your benefit amount must be less than you would receive based on your ex-spouse’s work. In other words, we’ll pay the higher of the two benefits for which you’re eligible, but not both.

You can apply for benefits on your former spouse’s record even if they have not retired, as long as you have been divorced at least two years before applying.

After you reach full retirement age, you can elect to receive only the divorced spouse benefits and delay benefits on your own record, which may mean a higher monthly amount for you.

If you were born before January 2, 1954 and reach full retirement age, you can elect to receive only the divorced spouse benefits and delay benefits on your own record. This may mean a higher monthly amount for you.

The same rules apply for a deceased former spouse. The amount of benefits you get has no effect on the benefits your ex-spouse or their current spouse receives. If your ex-spouse died after you divorced, you can still qualify for widow’s benefits.

Our Benefits Planner gives you an idea of your monthly benefit amount. If your ex-spouse died after you divorced, you can still qualify for widow’s benefits. Visit Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced to find all the eligibility requirements you must meet to apply as a divorced spouse.

We hope this news adds some joy to the range of emotions you feel when thinking of your “Ex”!

Did you find this Information helpful?

Yes
No
Thanks for your feedback!

Tags: , , , , ,

See Comments

About the Author

Doug Walker, Deputy Commissioner, Communications

Deputy Commissioner, Office of Communications

Comments

  1. florist

  2. florist

  3. florist

  4. florist

  5. florist

  6. florist

  7. florist

  8. florist

  9. Patty K.

    My name is Patricia Jo Halstead-Kellner. I am a divorced woman age 75. I was married to my ex-spouse for 12 years. I retired at 62 and was told by the Soc. Sec. rep. that my benefits would be more than my ex-spouse so I took it. He had not started to collect benefits at that time. I am now receiving $603. a month for 2018. After Medicare and my health ins. is paid my benefit is reduced to $419., less than last year as my ins. prem. went up. My question is , can I collect off of my ex-spouse after all this time? His Soc. Sec. benefits have increased far more than mine as he didn’t retire until a year after I did. My SS# is *** – ** – ***. His name is Van Henry Day and SS# is *** – ** – ***. Can you tell me if I am eligible for SSI? I receive $220.00 from PERA. Thank you for your help.

    • Patty J.

      I didn’t get a reply. I got some reply to Harold???

    • R.F.

      Hello Patty. To see if you qualify for SSI or a higher benefit than what you are receiving now, on your ex-spouse’s record, you will need to contact your local office or call our toll free telephone number at 1-800-772-1213, Monday through Friday between 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. and ask a representative to assist you.
      Also, you may be eligible to receive social services from the state in which you live. Visit the Medicare website to learn about programs available to assist people with low income to pay for Medicare expenses. Many states also have programs to help with Medicare payments. You can find out about them by calling your State Medical Assistance Office. To get the local phone number, call the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services at 1-800-633-4227 (TTY, 1-877-486-2048).
      Just a reminder – Please be cautious about posting personal information on social media. Thanks!

  10. florist

Comments are closed.