SS Benefits — better off divorced?
Hi Terry I was listening to you on John Williams today, as I do 90% of the time, you made a comment to a caller and I wanted to know both my spouse and I have paid into SS all our lives, if we’re both alive can we collect both our benefits or just one? If just one should we get a divorce (wink wink) and get both? Thank you
Terry Says
You only get to collect one benefit, as a spouse of a living husband: either yours or HALF of his, if he is still alive.
If you are a widow, you get to collect one benefit: either yours or HIS full benefit, assuming you are 60 (at which age the benefits will be reduced).
If you are divorced and not remarried and were married for 10 years, and are age 62, you are entitled to collect on his benefits. But you must be divorced for at least 2 years, unless your ex-spouse is already collecting benefits.
Tip: Stay married. Go to www.MaximizeMySocialSecurity.com and run the numbers to make sure you are getting the correct and maximum amounts! It’s worth the $49 cost.
