Divorced Widow(er) Benefits

I am 58 years old. I married my second husband at age 51. My own earnings record is dismal. (Projected benefits of $300 month). My husband is 62 and is currently collecting SSDI of $1200/month. (And has been for 5 years). I have a previous marriage of over 10 years. My ex-husband is a very high earner and I suspect his SS benefit would be about as high as one could get. We are willing to divorce after 10 years of marriage if it means I will be able to collect on my ex's record.

I draw only $700/mo from early application for SS (started at 63), I was married for 15 years and have been divorced for 10 from a man who is drawing disability of $1200. If he passes away after I reach full retirement age, am I able to draw a supplemental amount? Like $500 to supplement to his full amount? And would that be a different answer if his money is SSI instead of SS disability?

Hi,

If my ex husband dies, can I collect on his social security even though I remarried. I'm 68 and draw on my own ss but it's not much. My current husbands ss is really small because he worked for the state and didn't pay in for 20 years.

Hi,

You couldn't receive survivor benefits on an ex's record as long as your current marriage continues, unless your current marriage took place on or after your 60th birthday.

Best, Jerry

I am receiving ex spouse Social security benefits. I am 67, not married. I have read about ex spouse widow benefits and I have a question concerning that. Since I am not in contact with my ex, if an he passes before me, will my benefits be adjusted to the ex widows amount automatically?

Hi,

Yes, since you are already drawing benefits on your ex's record, your benefit rate would automatically be adjusted upward in the event of his death.

Best, Jerry

I am 60.5 yrs of age. I was married and divorced for 11.5 yrs. My ex just passed. I still work full time for the state of texas making $49K. Should I apply for deceased survivor benefits now and then when I reach retirement age see which will be higher for me to flip too?

Hi,

If I have started collecting SS benefits on my own record, if ex spouse dies, can I go to Ss and change my benefit to widows' benefit? We were married 25 years, and my benefit was more than using his, when he was alive, and I started collecting. Thank you. Mary

Hi Mary,

Mother died of cancer a 2 yrs. ago. She had no will, but made her adult daughter 'power of attorney'. Mother was divorced from step-father for 6 yrs. They had been married 10 yrs.! Step-father immediately started collecting dead ex-wife's social security.
1.. Would it have made a difference if mother had a will to challenge his actions?
2. Does the natural born daughter (power of attorney) have any legal rights to her mother's social security? The mother would not have wanted this to happen!

HI, I am 59 years old, will be 60 in march 2018, my ex husband died at age 56, we were married over 10 years,
I am going to collect widows benefits once I turn 60, my question is , I know its a reduced rate for early retirement, but will it go up when I turn a certain age
Jen

Hi Jen,

I was married for over 20 years. My ex-husband then remarried and he recently passed away.I have been receiving $94.00 a month for years.. At my current age of 82, can I collect money from my ex-husband's account instead of my own?? Thank you.
Sincerely, Anna

Hi Anna,

My ex spouse and I divorced in 2003, after more than 10 years of marriage. I began receiving social security disability on or right around that time. He never remarried. I remarried in 2013 and my husband died 364 days later. I began receiving survivor benefits after his death. My ex husband also passed away in 2015, after receiving on one SS retirement check. Can I change which spouse I receive the survivor benefits on,as my ex had considerable more income. Thank you Larry for any assistance you can provide me. Donna

Hi Donna,