What happens with my social security when I get divorced?
Many people wonder what will happen to their social security benefits when their divorce goes through, especially if the divorce happens later in life.
Here are a few things to keep in mind that may help you answer some general questions about social security benefits in the event of a divorce:
– If you are over 62, had been married for over 10 years, and are currently unmarried, you can receive social security benefits based on your ex-spouse’s earnings, even if he/she remarried
– If both you and your spouse worked, the lower earner may receive benefits from the higher earners work
– If you didn’t work throughout your marriage, you can be eligible to collect social security benefits based on your ex-spouse’s work
– You can collect a divorced spouse’s benefits without reducing the amount of your ex’s benefit
– The longer you wait to collect, the higher your benefit will be
– If your ex hasn’t applied, but qualifies, you can still reduce benefits if you have been divorced for two (2) years
For more information about social security benefits and divorce, visit the social security website.
