08 Jun My ex won’t give me my divorce paperwork. Can I get Social Security?

Q. My ex husband won’t give me my divorce paperwork. I left the country to get away from him and we were married 10 years. I don’t have his Social Security number or any tax paperwork. How can I get spousal benefits?
— Unsure

A. You’re going to have to do some legwork.

But you can make this work.

If you were married for 10 years and then divorce, as long as you do not remarry, you are entitled to collect Social Security under your former husband’s benefits, said Jeralyn Lawrence, a family law attorney with Lawrence Law in Watchung.

She said you should be able to get copies of your divorce paperwork either through the county where the divorce was handled or by reaching out to the Administrative Office of the Courts in Trenton.

“Once you have a copy of your divorce documentation, you should make an appointment with your local Social Security office and discuss with them your options and entitlements to ensure you receive the maximum amount of benefits allowed,” Lawrence said. “It may be a time-consuming process, but it is an important one which should result in your receiving money to which you are entitled.”

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This story was originally published on June 8, 2022.

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