06 Jun I was married twice. From which spouse can I get Social Security?

Q. I was married for 25 years, divorced then remarried for five years, but the second marriage is coming to an end. Can I still collect half of my first ex-husband’s Social Security benefits at retirement age now that I will be single again?
— Hopeful

A. We’re sorry to hear about — or congratulations? — the end of your second married.

The Social Security rules surrounding divorce and spousal benefits are very specific.

Yes, you still can collect one-half of your first ex-husband’s Social Security despite only being married to your second husband for five years, said Kimberly Hubbard, a certified financial planner with Access Wealth in East Hanover.

However, you must be unmarried to your second spouse to collect spousal benefits from your first spouse, she said.

To collect benefits from a divorced spouse, you must be 62 or older and have been married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years, Perry said, noting you must be officially divorced to be eligible to collect on your first spouse’s record.

But, she said, it’s possible that you may not actually collect half of your ex-husband’s benefit, calling it a common misconception.

The maximum amount of the spousal benefit is half of the spouse’s primary insurance amount — the Full Retirement Age benefit, she said.

“Your ex-husband may delay receiving his benefit until age 70 to receive delayed retirement credits,” she said. “These credits would increase his benefit by 8% each year but do not increase the spousal benefit.”

Additionally, she said, if you begin collecting your spousal benefit before reaching full retirement age, that benefit will be reduced.

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This story was originally published on June 6, 2023.

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