You’re certainly familiar with Social Security spousal benefits, which allow you to collect up to half of your spouse’s retirement payment. But did you know that even if you’re divorced, you may still be eligible for the spousal benefit?
Of course, because this is Social Security, there are a number of rules and guidelines you must follow. However, even a tiny increase in retirement income following a divorce could make this alternative worthwhile.
Social Security Benefits for Divorced Individuals
You can claim the higher amount if the amount you’d get based on your ex’s employment history (50% of their benefit) is greater than your own benefit. Consider the following:
- Age – When you apply, you must be at least 62 years old. (If you’re disabled or your ex is deceased, you may be able to apply before then.) The normal full retirement age is 67.
- Marriage duration– You and your ex must have been married for a minimum of ten years.
- Remarriage – You can’t marry again unless you were over 60 when you remarried or your remarriage ended in death, divorce, or annulment.
- The eligibility status of ex – Your ex must be eligible for Social Security or disability payments, even if they aren’t currently receiving them. If that is the case (your ex is eligible but has not yet claimed benefits), you can still receive payments if you have been divorced for at least two years.
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Can Widow Claim Ex-Partner’s Benefits?
In many ways, this benefit is more generous. The divorced survivor benefit might be up to 100% of what your ex was receiving before the divorce. You can apply for this benefit as young as 60, or as young as 50 if you are incapacitated.
If you begin before your own full retirement age, the amount will be reduced and subject to the earnings test, as with divorced spousal benefits.
However, you can be married and still receive divorced survivor benefits based on an ex’s work record if you remarry at the age of 60 or older. You can also change from a divorced survivor’s benefit.
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