What percentage of my ex-husband's social security can I get?

Asked by: Tevin Ward  |  Last update: July 11, 2025
Score: 4.2/5 (61 votes)

The marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years before ending in divorce, and you must be unmarried and at least 62 years old. If the requirements are met, the divorced spouse can receive an amount equal to as much as 50% of their ex's benefits.

What percent of Social Security does a divorced spouse get?

If you wait until your full retirement age (FRA), you'll get 50% of your ex's benefit. Full retirement age, or normal retirement age, depends on the year you were born. If you were born between January 2, 1943 and January 1, 1955, your FRA is 66. The full retirement age increases gradually for those born after 1955.

How do I know how much Social Security I will get from my ex-husband?

You can visit the official Social Security Administration website and use their online calculator to estimate your benefits. You'll need to have information on your own work history and earnings.

Can I take half of my husband's Social Security if it is more than mine?

If you receive retirement on your own record, we will pay that amount first. If your benefits as a spouse are higher than your own benefit, you will get a combination of benefits that equals the higher spouse's benefit.

Can a divorced wife collect her ex-husband's Social Security?

Yes, you can still collect Social Security based on your ex's record if you divorce after he retires, as long as you meet the other eligibility requirements (eg, were married for at least 10 years, are 62 or older, and are single when you apply).

How Much Social Security Can I Draw Off My Ex-Spouse

31 related questions found

How much of my ex-husband's Social Security will I get when he dies?

Social Security rules allow a qualifying former spouse to claim benefits based on the work history of a higher-earning ex. These benefits are worth up to 50% of that former spouse's Social Security benefit at full retirement age. However, if that former spouse dies, the benefit's value is worth up to 100%.

Does a divorced woman get half of her husband's Social Security?

If an ex-husband is alive when a woman claims Social Security benefits on his earnings record, the auxiliary benefit (also known as divorced-spouse benefit) is effectively equal to one-half of the ex-husband's PIA .

Can I stop my ex-wife from getting my Social Security?

It's natural to ponder if you can stop your ex-spouse from partaking in your social security benefits. However, the high dam of federal law stands firm, preventing you from single-handedly stopping your ex-spouse from staking a claim on your benefits.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

Specifically, a rumored $16,728 bonus that had people wondering if it was true or not in 2024? Sadly, there's no real “bonus” that retirees who receive Social Security can collect.

What are the three ways you can lose your Social Security?

Indeed, here are three ways you can lose at least part of your Social Security benefit.
  • No. 1: Keep working while taking benefits early. ...
  • No. 2: Be a substantially lower-earning spouse. ...
  • No. 3: Be alive in 2034. ...
  • Social Security still provides an important foundation for retirement.

Does my ex wife get a portion of my Social Security?

The Bottom Line

If you were married to them for at least 10 years, you may be able to collect Social Security benefits based on your ex's work record. If you meet the requirements, you can receive benefits equal to as much as 50% of your ex's retirement benefit.

What is the highest Social Security payment?

The maximum Social Security benefit at full retirement age is $3,822 per month in 2024. It will be $4,018 a month in 2025. It's $4,873 per month in 2024 if retiring at age 70 and $2,710 if retiring at age 62. A person's Social Security benefit amount depends on earnings, full retirement age and when they take benefits.

What is the loophole for Social Security spousal benefits?

The first exception, which can be deemed as the Social Security spousal benefits loophole, works where an individual who remarries at 60 or later may still be entitled to Social Security survivors' benefits if the second marriage ends before the death of the first spouse.

How do I find out my ex-spouse's Social Security benefit amount?

A representative at your local Social Security office can provide estimates of the benefit you can receive as a divorced spouse, based on your former wife's or husband's earnings record. Call your local office or Social Security's national customer service line (800-772-1213) to make an appointment.

At what age can I collect my ex-husband's Social Security disability?

If you are age 62, unmarried, and divorced from someone entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits, you may be eligible to receive benefits based on their record. There are other rules, of course. You must have been married to your ex-spouse for 10 years or more.

How much of my spouse's Social Security will I get?

The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit.

Can two wives collect Social Security from one husband?

Each survivor benefit can be up to 100% of your benefit. The amount may be reduced if the women start benefits before their own full retirement age, but they don't have to share — the amount isn't reduced because you've had more than one spouse.

How to get $3000 a month in Social Security?

Exactly how much in earnings do you need to get a $3,000 benefit? Well, you just need to have averaged about 70% of the taxable maximum. In our example case, that means that your earnings in 1983 were about $22,000 and increased every year to where they ended at about $100,000 at age 62.

What are three ways you could lose your pension?

The Bottom Line. A number of situations could put your pension at risk, including underfunding, mismanagement, bankruptcy, and legal exemptions. Laws exist to protect you in such circumstances, but some laws provide better protection than others.

What is the 10 year rule for Social Security?

If you've worked and paid taxes into the Social Security system for at least 10 years and have earned a minimum of 40 work credits, you can collect your own benefits as early as age 62.

At what age can a wife take half of her husband's Social Security?

There is a catch: the spouse collecting benefits must be at least 62 or have a child who is either under the age of 16 or receiving Social Security disability benefits. Additionally, someone cannot receive spousal benefits until their spouse has filed for benefits, regardless of age.

Does an ex-wife get her ex-husband's Social Security when he dies?

you're eligible for some of your ex's Social Security

wives and widows. That means most divorced women collect their own Social Security while the ex is alive, but can apply for higher widow's rates when he dies.

Does my wife get Social Security if she never worked?

Spousal Benefits for Retired Workers

A spouse who has never worked in paid jobs or has not worked to earn sufficient credits to be eligible for his/her own retired worker benefits can receive a spousal benefit that is 50 percent of the eligible worker's full benefit.

Is it better to file separately if one spouse is on Social Security?

If you received Social Security or railroad retirement benefits and lived with your spouse at any time in the year, more of your benefits could be taxable with a separate tax return. For other filing status nuances, see our tax filing status guide.

What rights does an ex-wife have when her ex-husband dies?

Can an Ex-Spouse Inherit From the Decedent's Estate? Once a divorce is finalized and assets have been divided between the former spouses, the ex-spouse will generally have no right to an inheritance from their ex-spouse's estate if their ex-spouse dies.