07 Mar I’m divorced and have cancer. Can I get more from my ex?

Q. I’m 62. I was married for 15 years and we divorced in 2009. Now I have cancer. I get $2,000 from his pension. Is there anything I can do to get more from him — he works full time — to help me with my medical?

— Desperately seeking

A. We’re sorry to hear about your diagnosis.

A lot will depend on the specifics of your situation, so you should speak to an attorney who can review your divorce documents.

But assuming that you are not currently receiving alimony from him, it would seem unlikely that you can get any more, said Jody D’Agostini, a certified financial planner with The Falcon Financial Group in Morristown.

“Your diagnosis would be a significant change in circumstance allowing for modification if you were still receiving it,” she said.

But given that you’re 62, you might be able to collect Social Security based on your ex-husband’s work history if he also is age 62 or older, she said.

You can collect your full monthly benefit based on your work history if you worked for 10 years (40 quarters) or more. Otherwise, you can claim half of your ex-husband’s monthly benefit, she said.

“You do not need him to cooperate,” D’Agostini said. “You can claim by providing Social Security with your marriage license and divorce decree.”

You might want to meet in person with the Social Security Administration to learn what your options are, she said.

You can contact Social Security at (800) 772-1213 or find your local office here.

Email your questions to .

This story was originally published in March 2024.

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.