Worth After 50

What is a divorced spouse Social Security benefit worth?

If the marriage lasted ten years you may be able to claim on his record, without affecting his benefit and without him knowing. Two figures from your Social Security statements are enough to see what it is modelled to be worth against your own.

About you

Your full retirement age is 67.

From your Social Security statement at ssa.gov/myaccount. Enter 0 if you have no record of your own.

62 is the earliest. Waiting past your full retirement age raises your own benefit but not the divorced spouse part.

About the marriage

From his statement if you have it. If not, his most recent statement figure or a best estimate; the page will say the result is modelled.

Your estimate appears here

Enter your former spouse's benefit, or your own, to begin. Every figure stays in your browser.

Questions this usually raises

Can I claim Social Security on my ex-husband’s record?

Yes, if the marriage lasted at least ten years, you are not married now, you are 62 or older, and he is entitled to benefits. If the divorce is at least two years old you can claim even if he has not, as long as he is 62 or older. Claiming does not reduce his benefit or anyone else’s, and he is not told.

How much is a divorced spouse benefit?

Up to half of his full retirement benefit, if you claim at your own full retirement age. If your own benefit is higher you receive that instead. If you claim before full retirement age both parts are reduced for life, and the divorced spouse part is reduced faster than your own.

What if he dies before me?

As a surviving divorced spouse you can receive up to his full benefit from your survivor full retirement age, or a reduced amount from 60, instead of your own benefit if it is higher. The same ten-year marriage rule applies, and a remarriage after 60 does not end it.