I have recently retired on SSD at age 63. Why must I wait for my ex-spouse (he is 65) to retire to teceive/qualify for funds from him? We were married over 30 years.

Hi. You don't have to wait until your ex-spouse starts drawing benefits to potentially be eligible for divorced spousal benefits, provided that your ex is at least age 62 and your divorce has been final for at least 2 years (https://www.ssa.gov/OP_Home/handbook/handbook.03/handbook-0311.html). However, you'll only qualify for divorced spousal benefits if your ex's primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as your own 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 unreduced Social Security disability (SSDI) benefit rate. And, if you do qualify for divorced spousal benefits and if you start drawing them prior to your FRA, your divorced spousal rate will be reduced for age.

Best, Jerry