Ask Larry

How Much Can I Receive From My Ex-Husband?

My ex husband whom I was married to for 13 years draws 2100 disability social security and I’m only going to draw 800 how much can I receive from ex husband I’m 62

Hi. Probably nothing, at least while your ex-spouse is living. Unreduced divorced spousal benefits are calculated by subtracting a person's own primary insurance amount (PIA) from 50% of their ex-spouse's PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA), or their full Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit rate.

If your own age 62 benefit rate at age 62 is $800, then your PIA must be roughly $1224. If your ex-husband's PIA is roughly $2100, then half of his PIA would be less than your PIA. That would make your divorced spousal rate zero (i.e. $1050 - $1224).

However, if your ex dies before you then you could be eligible for up to his full benefit rate instead of yours. To get his full amount, though, you'd need to be at least FRA when you claim survivor benefits.

Best, Jerry

Posted: 
Oct 14 2022 - 8:39am
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