I was marred 38 years my ex worked 17 for federal goverment since 1994 to 2012 after my son diie . he divorced me. I am going to apply for my own Social Security and I am scare will I fall on any category of Social Securiity reduccion because of his pension. He ges both Social Security and Federal Pennsion. I am scared since my socal will be only 800 dolars if they reduce how I will live.. who can find out what system he work for if FERS OR CSR my divorce lawyer didnot collect any info. Please help . AH also if he dies the pension will end
/ they say he took me out of survivor benefits. will Social Security raise back up if he dies and the Pension ends . Please thank you

Hi,

Receiving a pension other than Social Security can only affect a person's Social Security benefits if the pension is based on that person's OWN WORK AND EARNINGS that were exempt from Social Security taxes. Therefore, your Social Security benefits won't be reduced simply because your ex-husband receives a federal pension.

Assuming that you were born after January 1 1954, you won't be eligible for divorced spousal benefits while your ex is still living unless his primary insurance amount (PIA) is more than twice as much as your 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).

If your ex-husband dies before you and assuming that you're drawing your own benefits when he dies, you could potentially qualify for survivor benefits if your ex's Social Security benefit rate is higher than your own rate. If the Social Security benefit amount that your ex is receiving is reduced because he's receiving a pension based on work that was exempt from Social Security taxes, then that reduction would be removed when calculating the amount of your potential survivor benefit.

When you apply for Social Security benefits, be it your own benefits or divorced spousal or survivor benefits, you won't need to furnish any information to Social Security about your ex-husband's work history or any pensions that he may be receiving. Social Security should already have the necessary information in their records.

Best, Jerry