Hi Larry, I'm 67 divorced more than 10 years. My ex is 65; he works and is not collecting SS.
I want to wait till 70 to maximize my benefits and want to collect on his.
According to the SS website "if your ex-spouse has not applied for retirement benefits, but can qualify for them, you can receive benefits on their record if you have been divorced for at least two years". I went to SS to apply and they told me that because he's not "collecting" benefits I can't tap into his benefits. Is that correct? Thank you.

Hi,

I am currently collecting SSDI..i am 60. Can i collect on my ex husband SS before 62 yrs of age due to my disability ? We were married 20 yrs..divorced for 19

Hi,

No, not if your ex is still living. You must be at least age 62 to be eligible for divorced spousal benefits on a living ex's record, regardless of whether or not you're disabled. And, if you qualify for and start drawing divorced spousal benefits prior to your full retirement age (FRA) your benefit rate will be reduced for age even if you're disabled.

Hi,
Six years ago when I first turned 62 I called the SSA to see if I could file for benefits based on my ex-wife’s work record. We were married for more than 10 years and divorced for 17 years. My ex-wife was also 62. I was told that I could not collect benefits. I believe the reason given was that it was because my benefit was greater than hers.

Hello,

I am currenty applying for disability. I was married for 9 years and 10 months, so I do not qualify to file for benefits under the 10 year mark. However, I do have evidence that we lived together for 4 years prior to the marriage, such as the taxes and my oldest son birth certificate. We never entered into a common law agreement since in PR that is not valid. Would it be possible to provide proof and be able to claim benefits under my ex husband?

Hi,

Hi Larry,
A friend divorced her first husband after 10 years and remarried at 63. She divorced recently and her second marriage lasted also more than 10 years. She is currently receiving SS on the first husband and would like to apply for benefits of the second husband as the benefits will be higher. However, she was told by SS that she is ineligible to receive benefits on the second husband because "she was not of SS age when she married her second husband"... Is that correct? All information we can find online says she should be eligible.
Thank you!

Hi Larry, I've been with my boyfriend 19 years now, he was married before he meant me for 19 years and has been divorced for 19 years . My question is, if I marry him will his ex wife be able to get any of his social security benefits/ retirement? Or would i be able to ( I guess you would say draw off of it)?

Hi,

This is NOT a software question but rather a rules questions.
How long can you be divorced before it is too late to "restart the clock" towards the 10 years necessary to qualify on the benefits of a divorced spouse? If you are married 9 years then divorced for two days then married for a year can you still get benefits? how about if divorrced for 1 month before remarying for a year ? 6 monthss then remarried for a year? When is the line that produces an irrevocable reset of the term?
Part 2:

I am now 66 and collect SS and disability of about $2,500 per month. My ex wife is now 61 and still working likely making over $150k per year. We have been divorced for years but we never remarried. We we only married 13 years. My question is can she ever get any of my benefit while alive, can I get any of her benefit at this time, and can I remarry to make sure my benefit doesn't go to Uncle Sam in the event of my death as I have cancer. Thank you.

Hi,

I'm sorry to hear about your illness.

I just turned 62 in December 2018 and filed for early SS for $761 per month. I got my 40 credits in when I was young. I became a Minister and stopped paying into SS for 30+ years, thus the low SS amount. I have been married for 22 years to a wonderful breadwinner the entire marriage. However, 1) I became disabled and couldn't work 8 years ago and could not qualify for SSDI (disability) for not paying SS for the previous 5 years. 2) Separated 4 years ago and haven't had an income since thus forced into early retirement.

If a women was married for 10 years and has since gotten divorced and remarried 2 more times and only the initial marriage lasted 10 years and she's currently divorced can she collect a spousal benefit (whether restricted or because it would be more than her own benefit) on her first husband where it was the only marriage that lasted 10 years?
Thank you

Hi,