Certainly, many people are currently unaware that Social Security benefits can be drawn based on an ex-spouse’s employment history. However, certain conditions must of course be met.
For example, a person may be eligible for benefits based on their former partner’s employment history if their marriage has lasted at least 10 years. This was explained by William Meyer, founder of Social Security Solutions, a website that helps people figure out how to apply for their Social Security.
On the other hand, Meyer also pointed out that any benefits he receives will not affect the amounts the ex will receive. It also does not affect the amounts of the ex-partner’s current spouse or any of the ex-partner’s other ex-spouse.
However, the rules for these benefits depend on whether the ex-partner is alive or deceased.
How about each?
If your ex-spouse is alive and has not remarried, you may be eligible for divorced spouse benefits. Benefits that could be up to 50% of what the former would receive at full retirement age (66 and 67).
However, it is important to note that you can only receive this divorced spouse benefit if the amount is more than what you earned on your own work record.
In this sense, Social Security does not pay both amounts, but rather the higher of the two. To apply, you must both be at least 62 years of age or be receiving Social Security Disability Benefits.
It should be made clear that benefits for divorced spouses end when they remarry.
For those who have a deceased ex-partner, divorced survivor benefits could now apply. This is the most generous benefit in many ways.
You can apply from the age of 60 or 50 if you have an eligible disability. But the most striking thing is that it can be up to 100% of what your ex partner received.
However, the amount can be reduced and would be subject to income testing if started before full retirement age.
Taxpayers can remarry and still receive divorced survivor benefits. This would be based on the ex’s employment history, assuming he remarried aged 60 or older.
You can also subsequently convert the divorced survivor’s benefit into your own benefit.