A man
wonders if his ex-wife will siphon away his Social Security benefit.
Russell Settle • February 18,
2021
Welcome to our “Social
Security Q&A” series. You ask a question about Social Security, and a guest
expert answers it.
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a question of your own below. And if you would like a personalized report
detailing your optimal Social Security claiming strategy, click here.
Check it out: It could result in receiving thousands of dollars more in
benefits over your lifetime!
Today’s question comes
from Mike:
“Can you answer a Social
Security question for me? I was divorced in 2013, and I heard my ex can claim
my Social Security benefits. So, will I even get a check, and how much will she
be able to take from me?”
Not as bleak as it seems
Mike, I am pleased to let
you know that your situation is nowhere near as bleak as you suggest. Your ex
may or may not be able to claim some benefits on your Social Security record.
The good news for you is that even if she does qualify for benefits on your
record, it will cost you nothing. Let me explain.
First, you don’t say how
long your marriage lasted. For your ex to qualify for benefits on your record,
your marriage needs to have lasted at least 10 years. Anything shorter means
that she does not qualify for benefits after your divorce.
A second requirement for
an ex-spousal benefit is that she cannot be remarried at the time of the
application for benefits on your record. If she remarries and then divorces
again, she remains potentially eligible for benefits on your record unless she
remarries again.
Even if the above
requirements are met, she still may not qualify for benefits. It depends on the
amount of her own Social Security benefits relative to her potential ex-spousal
benefit.
The calculation is done
by comparing full retirement age (FRA) benefits. The maximum ex-spousal benefit
equals one-half of your FRA benefit. If her own benefit exceeds one-half of
this amount, she will not receive any ex-spousal benefits. If her own benefit
is less than one-half this amount, she receives something in ex-spousal
benefits, with the exact amount depending again on the FRA benefit amounts
mentioned above.
Here is an illustration:
Suppose your FRA benefit
amount is $2,000. Her maximum ex-spousal benefit, if she has no benefit on her
own, would be $1,000.
If she has her own
benefits, that $1,000 is reduced by the amount of her own FRA benefit. Suppose
her own FRA benefit is $700. In that case, she qualifies for an ex-spousal
benefit of $300 at her FRA, bringing her total benefit to $1,000.
Of course, if she claims earlier
than her FRA, her actual benefits will be less than the amounts mentioned here.
As previously noted, if
she eventually does receive an ex-spousal benefit, it will have no impact on
your benefit, or on your current spouse’s benefit if you remarry. In fact, the
Social Security Administration will not even inform you that an ex-spousal
benefit is being paid on your record.
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About me
I hold a doctorate in
economics from the University of Wisconsin and taught economics at the University
of Delaware for many years.
In 2009, I
co-founded SocialSecurityChoices.com,
an internet company that provides advice on Social Security claiming decisions.
You can learn more about that by clicking here.
Disclaimer: We
strive to provide accurate information with regard to the subject matter
covered. It is offered with the understanding that we are not offering legal,
accounting, investment or other professional advice or services, and that the
SSA alone makes all final determinations on your eligibility for benefits and
the benefit amounts. Our advice on claiming strategies does not comprise a
comprehensive financial plan. You should consult with your financial adviser
regarding your individual situation.
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