Social Security
Regardless of age, planning for retirement is important. Generally women accrue fewer retirement benefits than their male counterparts due to less time in the workforce or lower wages. Taking time off work to raise a family or help an aging parent can affect the amount of benefits received. While you are married you are entitled to share in your spouse’s social security benefits upon retirement. After a divorce you can receive a percentage of these benefits as well.
If your marriage was at least ten years in duration and you do not remarry post divorce you can qualify for a percentage of your ex spouse’s social security benefits when you both reach 62. Receipt of benefits can occur even if your ex has remarried and/or has not retired and begun to receive payments from social security himself. Your right to a share of your ex’s social security payments terminates upon your remarriage. If your subsequent marriage ends you again become eligible to receive a portion of the benefits.
If you are entitled to benefits pursuant to your own work history, you will either receive 100% of your own allowed social security or 50% of your ex’s, whichever is greater. You will not receive both. Your own benefits must be at least one-half the amount of your ex’s at 65 in order for a valid claim for payment of social security pursuant to his work history to exist. Additionally, you must be divorced for at least two years to make the claim.
While your ex is alive you can receive 50% of his benefits. Should he die, you become entitled to 100% of his benefits. Collection of benefits can begin at age 60, or even 50 if you are disabled, in the event of your ex’s death.
If your spouse is remarried, both you and the second wife can receive social security benefits. Collecting pursuant to your ex’s social security benefits will not reduce the amount he or his new spouse will receive. In fact, he will never know when you receive a payment or the amount thereof. It is important to keep a record of your ex’s social security number in order to facilitate a claim. Should you have any questions, you can contact the social security office at (800) 772-1213.