Do I get my ex husband's Social Security if he dies?

Yes, you can get your ex-husband's Social Security if he dies, as a surviving divorced spouse, if you were married at least 10 years, are unmarried (or remarried after 60/50 if disabled), are age 60+ (or 50+ if disabled), and don't have a higher benefit on your own record. You can receive up to 100% of his full retirement benefit, which is often more than the 50% divorced spouse benefit and can increase your payment significantly.

What is an ex-wife entitled to when her ex-husband dies?

If your ex-husband passes away, you may be eligible for survivor benefits based on his work record. The eligibility requirements for survivor benefits are similar to those for Social Security benefits, with a few key differences: Your marriage must have lasted at least ten years before the divorce was finalized.

What happens when an ex-husband dies?

Once the divorce is finalized, and a final judgment is entered on all issues, both spouses are legally divorced. Neither spouse's death has a legal impact. A family law court would follow the divorce decree. The surviving spouse no longer has rights to spousal support or child support, if they were receiving it.

Does a divorced woman get her ex-husband's Social Security?

A divorced woman's Social Security benefit can be based on her ex-husband's earnings alone, her deceased husband's or deceased ex-husband's earnings alone, her own earnings alone, or a combination of earnings.

What percentage of Social Security benefits does a divorced widow 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.

How Divorced Social Security Spousal Benefits Work

Can I collect my dead ex-husband's Social Security?

Yes, you can often collect survivor Social Security benefits from a deceased ex-husband if you meet certain criteria, primarily being age 60+ (or 50+ with disability), married at least 9-10 years, and not remarried before that age, with the benefit usually being your own retirement amount or up to 100% of his if it's higher and you're eligible as a survivor, so contact the SSA promptly with documentation like your marriage/divorce papers and his SSN. 

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.

Can my ex-wife take my Social Security if I remarry?

Yes, your ex-wife can get your Social Security benefits even if you remarry, as long as she meets eligibility rules (married 10+ years, unmarried, age 62+) and your benefit is higher than her own, because divorced spouse benefits are based on your record, not your new spouse's. Remarriage typically ends these benefits, but exceptions exist, and she can still claim survivor benefits on your record if you pass away, even if you're remarried (if she's 60+, or 50+ if disabled). 

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. 

Can an ex-wife get pension after death?

Yes, an ex-wife can get a portion of a deceased ex-husband's pension, but it depends heavily on the divorce agreement, specific pension plan rules (like {!nav}}QDROs for private plans), Social Security rules, and any elections made at retirement, with eligibility often requiring a long marriage (e.g., 10+ years) and not remarriage before a certain age. It's not automatic; it usually needs to be arranged through a court order or a specific designation by the retiree. 

What benefits can you get when your ex-husband dies?

If your ex-husband dies, you might be entitled to Social Security survivor benefits, potentially up to 100% of his benefit if you wait until your Full Retirement Age (FRA), provided your 10-year marriage ended at least two years before you claimed (unless you're caring for his minor/disabled child). You'd also get any assets designated to you, like life insurance or pension benefits, if you're named as the beneficiary or if it was part of your divorce decree, but general inheritance rights are usually revoked by divorce. 

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.

Are ex-spouses entitled to death benefits?

Yes, a divorced spouse can claim Social Security survivor benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are at least age 60 (or 50 if disabled), you are unmarried (unless remarried after 60), and you meet other conditions, without affecting benefits for other survivors. These benefits, available on the deceased ex-spouse's record, can provide a significant monthly payment, sometimes more than you'd get from your own work record, and don't even require you to have worked or paid Social Security taxes. 

Will Social Security notify me if my ex-husband dies?

The Social Security Administration (SSA) will only automatically notify you if you are already receiving spousal benefits on your ex-husband's record; otherwise, the responsibility is yours to check, as they often don't know about ex-spousal relationships, but you can call them periodically to ask if he's still alive to see if you qualify for survivor benefits. Funeral homes usually report deaths to the SSA, so if you aren't getting benefits, you'll need to proactively contact the SSA to inquire about your eligibility for surviving divorced spouse benefits. 

Can a divorced woman collect her ex-husband's pension?

Yes, an ex-wife can absolutely claim a portion of her ex-husband's pension, as pensions earned during the marriage are typically considered marital property and divisible assets, often requiring a court-issued Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) to transfer funds or future payments to the ex-spouse, even years after the divorce. The specific amount and process depend on state law, the divorce agreement, and the pension plan's rules, but a QDRO allows the ex-spouse (the "alternate payee") to receive benefits directly from the plan administrator. 

Who gets the last Social Security payment after death?

The last Social Security payment for the month of death typically goes to the surviving spouse or, if none, to an eligible child, often as part of a one-time $255 Lump-Sum Death Payment (LSDP), but any overpayments (like a monthly benefit sent after death) must be repaid to the Social Security Administration (SSA) (SSA). The SSA prioritizes payments to family members who were receiving or could receive benefits on the deceased's record, following a specific order: spouse, then children, then parents, and finally the estate. 

Does a divorced woman get her ex-husband's Social Security?

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.

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 "Social Security spousal benefits loophole" referred to strategies like "file and suspend" and "restricted application" that allowed couples to maximize benefits by having the higher earner suspend their own claim (after full retirement age) so the lower earner could claim a spousal benefit, while the higher earner's benefit grew, but these were largely closed by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 for most new applicants, making it harder to get spousal benefits without also claiming your own. A separate, lesser-known "loophole" exists for caregivers of disabled children, allowing a parent (often the mother) to receive spousal benefits earlier than usual.
 

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

You can collect your deceased ex-husband's Social Security as a surviving divorced spouse as early as age 60, or age 50 if you're disabled, provided your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you're unmarried (unless remarried after age 60), and your ex-spouse worked long enough under Social Security. The benefit amount will likely be reduced if claimed before your own Full Retirement Age (FRA) and is based on his record, not yours. 

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

To find out about your ex-husband's Social Security benefits as a divorced spouse, you must contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) directly, as they handle this confidential information; you'll need his name, date of birth, and Social Security Number (SSN), and your own documents (birth certificate, marriage/divorce papers) to apply for an estimate or benefits at your local SSA office, online, or by phone, and your ex won't be notified. 

How long do you have to be married to get a spouse's Social Security?

To collect your spouse's Social Security, you generally must have been married for at least one continuous year, be age 62 or older (or caring for a qualifying child), and your spouse must be receiving benefits (unless you're a widow/widower). The one-year rule has exceptions, like if you're the parent of the worker's child, and for divorced spouses, the requirement is a 10-year marriage. 

Can I draw my ex-husband's Social Security if he is alive?

Yes, you can draw Social Security benefits on your living ex-husband's record if you meet specific criteria: you must be unmarried, at least 62, have been married for 10+ years, divorced for 2+ years (unless he's claiming), and your own benefit is less than what you'd get from his record. He doesn't need to be collecting yet, and it won't affect his or his current spouse's benefits. 

Can an ex-spouse collect my Social Security if they remarry?

If you are divorced, you may qualify for Social Security benefits based on the earnings record of your ex-spouse, even if they have remarried or passed away. There are two types of benefits potentially available to you: spousal benefits and survivor benefits.

Can two wives collect Social Security from one husband if they?

Yes, multiple wives (current and/or ex-spouses) can collect Social Security survivor benefits from one deceased husband's record, as long as they meet specific eligibility rules (like marriage duration and age) and don't affect each other's payments, with each receiving up to 100% of his benefit, though total family benefits have a cap.