Divorced and over 62? You may be eligible for divorced spousal Social Security Benefit

Did you know that if you are over 62, divorced, were married for more than ten years, and not currently married to someone else, you may be eligible to receive up to half the amount your ex-spouse receives in Social Security?

While it may not amount to a lot, it can provide some real relief and peace of mind to those spouses who stayed at home to care for children or elderly family members and only entered the job market later in life often at a significantly lower salary. It can also provide some relief to their adult children, who may be financially supporting them.

To be clear, the Social Security benefit you are entitled to receive from your own work record must be less than the benefit you would receive from your ex-spouse’s work record. You can collect whichever benefit is more; you cannot collect both.

Here are the most common questions people ask when they learn about this policy: