Divorced individuals can collect up to 50% of their ex-spouse's full Social Security retirement benefit without reducing what the ex receives.
To qualify, you must have been married at least 10 years, be unmarried, be 62 or older, and your ex must be Social Security-eligible.
Claim spousal benefits only if they exceed your own earned benefit, since Social Security pays just one retirement benefit at a time.
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A growing number of couples are opting to divorce later in life. Also known as "gray divorce," the share of people 50 and over who got divorced doubled between 1990 and 2010.
If you're divorced and nearing retirement, you may be hoping to carve out a life for yourself that has nothing to do with your ex. But while you may not have to spend time with your former spouse or communicate with them regularly, you may be tied to them in the context of Social Security.
In fact, depending on your circumstances, you may be eligible to collect a Social Security benefit worth as much as 50% of your ex-spouse's full retirement age benefit. Better yet, claiming that benefit won't reduce your ex's monthly checks or affect what their current spouse, if they have one, can receive.
The rules related to Social Security spousal benefits for divorcees can be confusing, though. Let's review them so that you know what to expect.
Social Security allows some divorced people to claim benefits based on an ex-spouse's earnings record. To qualify for spousal benefits from Social Security as a divorcee, you generally have to meet several requirements:
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Your marriage lasted at least 10 years.
Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security.
The benefit you'd receive based on your own work record is smaller than the spousal benefit you're eligible for.
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