Am I entitled to collect Social Security on my ex's account? ...anyone know?

Seeking Advice
1

I’ve been divorced for 7 years and was married for 46 1/2 years. Am I entitled to collect Social Security on my ex’s account? Anyone know if this is something I can do?

2

You might be eligible! From what I know, if you’ve been married for 10 years or more and you’re not remarried, you could be entitled to benefits based on your ex’s account. But they have to be eligible for Social Security too.

3

@Harper
Ahh, I see. So I need to be at least 62 to start collecting, right? I’m 60 now.

4

Dallas said:
@Harper
Ahh, I see. So I need to be at least 62 to start collecting, right? I’m 60 now.

Yep, you need to be 62. But if your ex is already getting Social Security, you could qualify earlier.

5

You should definitely check with the Social Security office. It’s not automatic. You have to apply for it, but if you meet the requirements, you might be in luck!

6

Zara said:
You should definitely check with the Social Security office. It’s not automatic. You have to apply for it, but if you meet the requirements, you might be in luck!

Good idea, I’ll look into it. Thanks for the heads-up!

7

Just FYI, if you’re not remarried, that’s a good thing. It helps your chances of qualifying. Also, your ex has to be eligible for Social Security, so check if they’ve started collecting.

8

Jasonmurphy said:
Just FYI, if you’re not remarried, that’s a good thing. It helps your chances of qualifying. Also, your ex has to be eligible for Social Security, so check if they’ve started collecting.

I’m not remarried, so that’s a relief! I’ll double-check if my ex is receiving benefits.

9

I had a similar situation. I called the Social Security office, and they helped me figure out everything. It was a lot easier than I thought!

10

Ariel said:
I had a similar situation. I called the Social Security office, and they helped me figure out everything. It was a lot easier than I thought!

That sounds simple enough! I’ll make the call soon. Thanks for sharing your experience.

11

One last thing—if your ex is already receiving Social Security, you may be able to collect benefits even if you haven’t hit 62 yet. You should ask about that!

12

MissNicklaus said:
One last thing—if your ex is already receiving Social Security, you may be able to collect benefits even if you haven’t hit 62 yet. You should ask about that!

Thanks for the tip! I didn’t know that could work before 62. I’ll ask about it when I reach out.