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can i collect my ex husband's social security benefits

by Evie Jacobs Published 2 years ago Updated 1 year ago
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Yes. You are eligible to collect spousal benefits on a living former wife's or husband's earnings record as long as: The marriage lasted at least 10 years. You have not remarried.

Can Your Ex take Your Social Security after divorce?

Social Security allows you to claim benefits on an ex-spouse's record if your marriage lasted 10 years and you've been divorced for two years. The maximum spousal benefit your ex can claim is 50% of your full retirement age benefit. If you're divorced, you may have heard that your ex-spouse can take your Social Security.

Will I get my ex-husband's social security when he dies?

A: Yes, your spousal Social Security benefits you currently receive will convert to survivor benefits at the time of your ex-husband's death, according to David Cechanowicz, director of education at Social Security Timing.

How to estimate Social Security benefits from a former spouse?

  • If you are of full retirement age or older, you would receive 100%.
  • If you are age 60 or older but not yet of full retirement age, you would receive 71.5% to 99%.
  • If are 50 to 59 years old and disabled, you would receive 71.5%.

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What percentage of Social Security does a widow receive?

  • A widow or widower over 60.
  • A widow or widower over 50 and disabled.
  • Surviving divorced spouses, assuming the marriage lasted at least ten years.
  • Widow or widower who is caring for a deceased child who is either under 16 or disabled.

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Can a divorced woman collect her ex husbands Social Security?

A divorced spouse may be eligible to collect Social Security benefits based on the former spouse's work record. The marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years, and the divorced spouse must be at least 62 years old.

How do I claim my ex husband's Social Security?

Form SSA-2 | Information You Need to Apply for Spouse's or Divorced Spouse's Benefits. You can apply: Online, if you are within 3 months of age 62 or older, or. By calling our national toll-free service at 1-800-772-1213 (TTY 1-800-325-0778) or visiting your local Social Security office.

Can I collect my ex husband's Social Security then switch to mine?

Can I collect Social Security as a divorced spouse and wait to claim my own retirement benefit? In most circumstances, no. You can only file what Social Security calls a “restricted application” to claim ex-spousal benefits alone and postpone claiming your retirement benefits if: You were born before Jan.

Can you collect 1/2 of spouse's Social Security and then your full amount?

Your full spouse's benefit could be up to one-half the amount your spouse is entitled to receive at their full retirement age. If you choose to begin receiving spouse's benefits before you reach full retirement age, your benefit amount will be permanently reduced.

At what age can I collect my ex husband's Social Security?

age 62 or olderIf you are divorced, your ex-spouse can receive benefits based on your record (even if you have remarried) if: Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer. Your ex-spouse is unmarried. Your ex-spouse is age 62 or older.

What percentage of ex husband's Social Security will I get?

If, however, you decide to wait until full retirement age to apply as a divorced spouse, your benefit will be equal to half of your ex-spouse's full retirement amount or disability benefit. The same rules apply for a deceased former spouse.

Can I collect ex spousal benefits and wait until I am 70 to collect my own Social Security?

You can only collect spousal benefits and wait until 70 to claim your retirement benefit if both of the following are true: You were born before Jan. 2, 1954. Your spouse is collecting his or her own Social Security retirement benefit.

Can I stop my ex wife from getting my Social Security?

There's nothing anyone can do to prevent their ex from claiming their Social Security. Even though some divorce decrees specify that one spouse will relinquish their rights to collect the other spouse's benefits, the Social Security Administration says these provisions “are worthless and are never enforced.”

Can I switch from spousal benefits to my own Social Security?

You will have to file an application to switch from survivor benefits on a late spouse's work record to retirement benefits on your own record. You should apply four months before you want your retirement benefit to start.

Can I collect my own Social Security and then switch to spousal benefit?

In this case, you can claim your own Social Security beginning at 62 and make the switch to spousal benefits when your husband or wife files. Social Security will not pay the sum of your retirement and spousal benefits; you'll get a payment equal to the higher of the two benefits.

Can I collect half of my husbands Social Security at 62?

A spouse can choose to retire as early as age 62, but doing so may result in a benefit as little as 32.5 percent of the worker's primary insurance amount. A spousal benefit is reduced 25/36 of one percent for each month before normal retirement age, up to 36 months.

How much do you get if you are 60?

If you are age 60 or older but not yet of full retirement age, you would receive 71.5% to 99%. If are 50 to 59 years old and disabled, you would receive 71.5%. If you are caring for your ex-spouse's child who is disabled or under the age of 16, you would receive 75%, no matter your age. 6 7.

How old do you have to be to get a disability?

If you are disabled, and your ex-spouse has died, you can begin receiving survivors benefits if you're between the ages of 50 and 59. Your disability also must have started before or within seven years of your ex's death. The rules vary slightly when it comes to children. If you are caring for a child who is under age 16 or disabled, ...

Can you receive your own retirement at age 70?

That way, you receive only the ex-spousal benefit. You can let your own benefit amount continue racking up delayed retirement credits until you reach age 70. When you reach age 70, you can switch to your own benefit amount if that's larger than the ex-spousal amount.

Does your ex spouse get benefits based on your record?

If you collect benefits based on your ex-spouse's record, it does not reduce the amount your ex-spouse receives. It also does not impact their current spouse, if they have one. And if your ex-spouse has one or more other ex-spouses who have also not remarried, that will not reduce your benefits.

What happens if my ex spouse's Social Security benefits are higher?

If the benefit on your ex-spouse's record is higher, you will get an additional amount so that the combination of benefits equals that higher amount. 1. If you were born before January 2, 1954, ...

How much of your ex's retirement benefits can you receive?

If you meet the requirements, you can receive benefits equal to as much as 50% of your ex's retirement benefit. Filing for these benefits is a fairly straightforward process, and to protect your privacy, your ex-spouse won't be notified when you do.

How long do you have to be married to collect Social Security?

To collect Social Security benefits based on a former spouse's earnings record, a divorced spouse must meet these requirements: You must have been married to that spouse for 10 years or more . You must be at least age 62. You cannot currently be married.

How to apply for divorce benefits?

How to Apply for Benefits as a Divorced Spouse. You can apply for benefits online by going to SSA.gov, or making an appointment at your local Social Security office. To apply for benefits on a former spouse's work record, you will need to have that person's Social Security number or date and place of birth and parents’ names. 7.

How old do you have to be to get a divorce?

The marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years, and the divorced spouse must be at least 62 years old. If the requirements are met, the divorced spouse can receive an amount equal to as much as 50% of their ex's benefits.

How long do you have to be married to get a divorce?

You must have been married to that spouse for 10 years or more.

Can a spouse receive survivor benefits if they are divorced?

If the spouse is deceased, the former partner may be eligible for a survivor's benefit of up to 100% of that amount. In either case, the divorced spouse must have reached full retirement age in order to receive the full (50% or 100%) benefit.

What happens if you don't withhold Social Security taxes?

If you receive a pension from an employer that did not withhold Social Security taxes (like a government), your benefits may be reduced according to the Government Pension Offset (GPO).

How old do you have to be to get Social Security?

You are at least 62 years old. You are single. You were married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years. The benefit you are entitled to receive based on your own work history is less than the benefit you would receive based on your former spouse's work history. Your ex-spouse qualifies for Social Security benefits.

What happens if you start taking unemployment at 62?

A few more details: If you start taking benefits at 62 and continue to work, you’ll be subject to the retirement earnings test. Your benefits could be reduced depending on the amount of income you earn.

When can you start receiving survivor benefits?

But there is one other big difference: You can begin receiving survivor benefits at age 60, or 50 if you’re disabled. Your Guide to Roth Conversions. You may also be eligible for “child in care” benefits if you are caring for the deceased’s children (16 years old or younger, or disabled).

Does my ex-husband get Social Security?

Your ex-spouse qualifies for Social Security benefits.

Does the SSA accept birth certificates?

The SSA will accept copies of tax and medical records, but needs the originals of most other documents, such as birth certificates. Don’t worry if you don’t know where your papers are located. “Do not delay applying for benefits because you do not have all the documents,” it says in bold letters on the SSA website.

How Does Divorce Affect the Collection of Social Security?

Social Security benefits are the most important source of retirement income in the United States. Here’s information on whether or not a woman can collect her ex-husband’s social security.

How Much Social Security Benefits Can I Collect as an Ex-Spouse?

A spouse is eligible to collect up to 50% of their ex-spouse’s primary insurance amount.

How to Apply for Social Security Benefits as an Ex-Spouse

A spouse can apply for Social Security benefits online through an application form or from their My Social Security account, by phone at 800-772-1212, or by making an appointment at their local Social Security office.

FAQs About How Divorce Affects Social Security Collection

No. Any benefits paid to you (an ex-spouse) do not affect the current benefits he and his current spouse (if applicable) receive.

How old do you have to be to get spouse's Social Security?

To qualify for spouse’s benefits, you must be one of these: At least 62 years of age.

When will my spouse receive my full retirement?

You will receive your full spouse’s benefit amount if you wait until you reach full retirement age to begin receiving benefits. You will also receive the full amount if you are caring for a child entitled to receive benefits on your spouse’s record who is younger than age 16 or disabled.

What happens if your spouse's retirement benefits are higher than your own?

If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own retirement benefits, you will get a combination of benefits equaling the higher spouse benefit. Here is an example: Mary Ann qualifies for a retirement benefit of $250 and a spouse’s benefit of $400.

How old do you have to be to apply for retirement?

If you are at least 62 years of age and you wish to apply for retirement or spouse’s benefits, you can use our online retirement application to apply for one or both benefits.

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Who Is Eligible?

Social Security Benefits

  • The maximum amount of Social Security benefits you can receive based on an ex-spouse's record is 50% of what your ex-spouse would get at their full retirement age. This varies based on their year of birth. The spousal benefit amount is further decreased if you file before you reach your own full retirement age.3 If you have an idea of what your ex-...
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Survivors Benefits Explained

  • If your ex-spouse has died, you may collect survivor's benefits. These follow different rules than those for a living ex-spouse. You can apply for benefits as early as age 60. If you remarry after you reach age 60, or age 50 if you are disabled, you will still be able to claim these benefits. If you are disabled, and your ex-spouse has died, you can begin receiving survivors benefits if you're betwe…
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What About Unmarried Children?

  • An unmarried child of the deceased may be able to receive benefits if one of the following applies: 1. They are younger than 18 years of age; or, they are up to age 19, if they are a full-time student in an elementary or secondary school. 2. They are age 18 or older with a disability that began before the age of 22.8
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