Can I collect my ex husband's Social Security if he is still alive?

Yes, you can draw Social Security benefits on your living ex-husband's record if you meet specific criteria: you were married 10+ years, you're currently unmarried, you're at least 62 (or 60 if disabled), your ex is eligible for benefits (even if not claimed yet), and your own benefit is less than what you'd get from his record. You can get up to 50% of his Full Retirement Amount (FRA), but it's reduced if you claim before your own FRA; he won't be notified and his benefits aren't affected.

When can I collect my ex-spouse's Social Security?

You can start collecting your ex-husband's Social Security benefits as early as age 62, provided you were married for at least 10 years, are currently unmarried, and he is eligible (or already receiving benefits). While you can file at 62, your benefit amount will be higher if you wait until your full retirement age (FRA), which is 67 for those born in 1960 or later, and even more if you delay past FRA, but new rules mean you can't collect just the spousal benefit if you're eligible for your own higher benefit at FRA. 

Does a divorced spouse get Social Security?

Yes, a divorced spouse can get Social Security benefits on an ex-spouse's record if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, the divorced spouse is currently unmarried, is at least 62 (or 50 if disabled), and the ex-spouse is eligible for retirement/disability benefits, even if the ex has remarried. Benefits are usually up to half the ex's amount, and if the divorced spouse qualifies for their own higher benefit, that's what they'll get. 

Can a wife collect half of her husband's Social Security?

Yes, a wife can collect a spousal Social Security benefit of up to half (50%) of her husband's primary retirement amount (PIA), provided she meets eligibility rules, like being at least 62 (or caring for a young child) and the husband is already collecting benefits, though the actual payout depends on her age when claiming, as claiming early reduces the amount, but it won't reduce his payment. 

What is the maximum Social Security benefit for a married couple?

The maximum Social Security benefit for a married couple in 2025 is around $10,216 per month, if both spouses earned the maximum taxable income for 35 years and delayed claiming benefits until age 70. For 2026, the individual maximum at full retirement age is about $4,152, potentially reaching $10,860 combined if both claim at age 70. A couple's total benefit depends on individual earnings and claiming age, with spousal benefits supplementing a lower earner's own benefit up to 50% of the higher earner's primary amount. 

How Divorced Social Security Spousal Benefits Work

How much does a surviving divorced spouse get from Social Security?

A surviving divorced spouse can get up to 100% of their deceased ex-spouse's full retirement benefit, similar to a widow's benefit, if they claim at their own full retirement age or older; otherwise, it's a reduced amount, starting around 71.5% if claimed between 60 and full retirement age. The benefit depends on the ex-spouse's earnings, and you must have been married at least 10 years and be unmarried, meeting specific criteria, AARP. 

What is the Social Security spousal benefits loophole?

The main Social Security spousal benefit loopholes (file-and-suspend & restricted application) were closed by the 2015 Bipartisan Budget Act, affecting most people, but a specific "loophole" allows a caregiver spouse to claim benefits early if caring for a disabled or young child, bypassing normal age/filing rules, though this is a legitimate SSA provision for caregivers, not a true exploit, with benefits subject to family maximums.
 

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

This is good news when former spouses are not on good terms. Your ex cannot “block” you from drawing your spousal benefit. In fact, he probably won't even know if you are drawing off him unless he calls SSA to ask.

What is the new law for Social Security spousal benefits?

The biggest recent change for spousal benefits is the Social Security Fairness Act (SSFA) of 2023, effective January 2024, which eliminates the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and Government Pension Offset (GPO) for many, meaning spouses and survivors with government pensions won't have their benefits reduced as much, if at all. Key rules remain: spouses can get up to 50% of the primary earner's benefit, can claim at 62 (with reductions), or care for a qualifying child (no reduction). Deemed filing still means applying for one benefit usually means applying for both.
 

Can I get my ex husband's Social Security if he remarried?

Yes, you can likely get Social Security benefits on your ex-husband's record even if he remarried, provided you were married at least 10 years, you are currently unmarried (or remarried after age 60), are at least 62, and your benefit would be more than on your own record. His remarriage doesn't affect your eligibility, and claiming benefits won't reduce his or his new spouse's payments; the Social Security Administration (SSA) will simply pay you up to 50% of his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA). 

Can I collect Social Security from my ex-husband while he's alive?

Yes, you can draw Social Security benefits on your living ex-husband's record if you meet specific criteria: you were married 10+ years, you're currently unmarried, you're at least 62 (or 60 if disabled), your ex is eligible for benefits (even if not claimed yet), and your own benefit is less than what you'd get from his record. You can get up to 50% of his Full Retirement Amount (FRA), but it's reduced if you claim before your own FRA; he won't be notified and his benefits aren't affected. 

How do I find out how much my ex-husband's Social Security benefits are?

To find out your ex-husband's potential Social Security benefit amount, create a my Social Security account at ssa.gov/myaccount/, use the "Calculate a benefit for a current or former spouse" tool, or contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) directly, as they can provide estimates based on his earnings record, but you'll need your marriage/divorce documents and potentially his SSN. 

How long do you have to be married to draw your spouse's Social Security?

To draw your spouse's Social Security, you generally must have been married for at least one year, be age 62 or older (or caring for a young/disabled child), and your spouse must already be receiving retirement or disability benefits, though the one-year rule has exceptions if you're caring for their child or were already collecting benefits on another record. For divorced spouses, the marriage must have lasted at least 10 years, and you must be unmarried when you apply. 

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

Yes, you can get your ex-husband's Social Security benefits if you were married at least 10 years, are currently unmarried, and are at least 60 (or 50 if disabled) when you apply, receiving up to 100% of his benefit amount, which is often more than your own retirement benefit. You must apply with the Social Security Administration (SSA) and provide documents like the death certificate and your divorce decree. 

How does Social Security work for divorced spouses?

Social Security for divorced spouses allows you to collect benefits on an ex-spouse's record if you were married 10+ years, are unmarried, and are at least 62 (unless caring for their minor/disabled child). The benefit is up to 50% of their full retirement amount (FRA) but won't reduce their payment, and you get your own higher benefit if you qualify for it. Key rules: you can apply if your ex is eligible (even if not yet claiming), your ex doesn't need to know, and clauses in divorce decrees relinquishing these rights are invalid. 

What are the three ways you can lose your social security benefits?

You can lose Social Security benefits by working while collecting early, leading to earnings limits; incarceration, which suspends payments; or through garnishment for federal debts like taxes, student loans, or child support, along with other factors like remarriage or changes in disability status. 

Why would spousal benefits be denied?

Common reasons for denial:

Your deceased spouse must have earned a certain number of credits for you to qualify for benefits. The SSA offers a handy calculator to determine the required credits. Remarriage before age 60: Remarrying before age 60 usually makes you ineligible for benefits.

What are the requirements to draw your ex-husband's Social Security?

Who is eligible for an ex-spouse's Social Security benefits?

• You were married to that spouse for 10 years or more and have been divorced for at least 2 years (only applies if that spouse isn't claiming yet).
• You're at least 62 years old.
• You're currently unmarried.

Can you collect both spousal benefits and your own Social Security?

Yes, both you and your spouse can collect Social Security, either on your own earnings records or by claiming a spousal benefit, and you'll receive the higher of the two amounts if you're eligible for both, with spousal benefits potentially reaching up to 50% of your spouse's primary benefit if claimed at your full retirement age. Claiming strategies can differ, with one spouse often waiting longer to maximize benefits for the household.
 

What is the maximum benefit an ex-spouse can receive?

The maximum ex-spousal benefit is up to 50% of the higher earner's benefit and capped at their full retirement age (FRA) amount, also known as the Primary Insurance Amount or PIA. Most will get a higher benefit based on their own record, rather than an ex-spouse's.

What is one of the biggest mistakes people make regarding Social Security?

Claiming Benefits Too Early

One of the biggest mistakes people make is claiming Social Security benefits as soon as they're eligible, which is at age 62. While getting money sooner can be tempting, claiming early has a significant downside: your monthly benefit will be reduced.

How much do you have to make to get $3,000 a month in Social Security?

To get around $3,000/month in Social Security, you generally need a high earning history, around $100,000-$108,000+ annually over your top 35 years, but waiting to claim until age 70 maximizes this amount, potentially reaching it with lower yearly earnings, say under $70k if you wait long enough, as benefits are based on your highest indexed earnings over 35 years. The exact amount depends heavily on your specific earnings history and the age you start collecting benefits. 

Can you collect your husband's Social Security while he is alive?

Yes, you can collect Social Security spousal benefits on your husband's record while he's alive, provided he's already receiving his own benefits, you're at least 62 (or caring for a qualifying child), and you haven't claimed your own higher benefit yet; you'll get the higher of your own benefit or the spousal benefit (up to 50% of his full amount), and claiming early reduces it, but it doesn't affect his payment. 

How much SS will I get from my ex-husband?

You can get up to 50% of your ex-husband's full Social Security retirement benefit if you file at your own Full Retirement Age (FRA), but it can be reduced to as low as 32.5% if claimed at age 62, and your benefit will be the higher of your own or the spousal amount; eligibility requires marriage for at least 10 years, being currently unmarried (unless widowed or divorced), and your ex being at least 62.