19 Jul I was divorced twice. Can I get their Social Security?

Q. I was divorced 20 years ago from my first husband and I divorced my second husband three years ago. How can I figure out how to get the highest Social Security benefit on their records?
— Unmarried now

A. You’re correct that it’s important to figure out what you can expect from Social Security benefits.

Because the benefits are very specific to your personal situation, you should call the agency at (800) 772-1213 to discuss your options. You can also make an appointment at your local office, though they’re not all open because of COVID.

It is best to call first thing in the morning before the long wait times start, said Amber Leach, a certified divorce financial analyst with Equitable Advisors/R.I.C.H. Planning Group in Morristown.

To qualify for benefits on the work record of an ex-spouse, you must be unmarried at the time you apply to receive benefits, you must have been married for at least 10 years to your ex-spouse, you must have been divorced at least two years if your ex-spouse has not started to claim their benefits and you must be at least 62 years old, she said.

When you contact Social Security, it will calculate the highest available benefit for which you qualify, Leach said.

“It will be either the benefit you are entitled to based on your own work record or the amount equal to half of the benefit that your ex-spouse is entitled to,” she said. “You will not receive both benefits. Social Security will just pay you the highest benefit you are entitled to.”

To claim a benefit based on an ex-spouse, you will need to provide information to Social Security on your ex-spouse, she said.

You will need to show proof of your length of marriage by providing your marriage certificate and the divorce decree. You will need to provide their Social Security numbers, and if you do not have that information, you can provide other identifying information that Social Security would request like their date and place of birth, parent’s names and other items, Leach said.

Once you have all this information then your next step is to contact Social Security.

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This story was originally published on July 19, 2022.

NJMoneyHelp.com presents certain general financial planning principles and advice, but should never be viewed as a substitute for obtaining advice from a personal professional advisor who understands your unique individual circumstances.