Can you collect 1 2 of ex spouse's Social Security and then your full amount?

Asked by: Mr. Hans Bogisich DDS  |  Last update: December 14, 2023
Score: 5/5 (17 votes)

If you are already receiving retirement benefits on your own work record, you can also claim any ex-spousal benefits you are eligible for, but Social Security will not pay you both combined. You'll receive whichever amount is higher and no more.

Can I collect my Social Security and half of my ex husband's Social Security?

If you're entitled to benefits based on your own earnings history, your benefit amount must be less than you would have gotten based on your ex-spouse's work. So, you can receive the higher of the two benefit amounts, but you can't tap into both benefit categories.

Can I collect half of my ex husband's Social Security benefit before collecting my own?

Can I collect Social Security as a divorced spouse and wait to claim my own retirement benefit? In most circumstances, no. You can only file what Social Security calls a “restricted application” to claim ex-spousal benefits alone and postpone claiming your retirement benefits if: You were born before Jan.

Can I take half of my husbands Social Security if it is more than mine?

Yes. If you qualify for your own retirement and spouse's benefits, we will always pay your own benefits first. If your benefit amount as a spouse is higher than your own retirement benefit, you will get a combination of the two benefits that equals the higher amount.

Can I collect ex-spousal benefits and wait until I am 70 to collect my own Social Security?

You can collect spousal benefits and wait until 70 to claim your retirement benefit if both of the following are true: You were born before Jan. 2, 1954. Your spouse is collecting his or her own Social Security retirement benefit.

How To Find Out Your Ex Spouse's Social Security

44 related questions found

What is the maximum Social Security benefit for a divorced spouse?

What's the maximum spousal benefit in 2023? The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of the other spouse's full retirement age benefit. The maximum monthly Social Security retirement benefit at age 67 -- that's the full retirement age for anyone born after 1959 -- is $3,808 in 2023.

When can I claim half of my spouse's Social Security?

If you are receiving retirement or disability benefits, your spouse may be eligible for spouse benefits if they are: At least age 62. Any age and caring for a child who is under age 16 or who has a disability that began before age 22.

How do I get the $16728 Social Security bonus?

To acquire the full amount, you need to maximize your working life and begin collecting your check until age 70. Another way to maximize your check is by asking for a raise every two or three years. Moving companies throughout your career is another way to prove your worth, and generate more money.

Why can't I get half of my husband's Social Security?

If you qualify for your own retirement benefit and a spouse's benefit, we always pay your own benefit first. You cannot receive spouse's benefits unless your spouse is receiving his or her retirement benefits (except for divorced spouses).

What is the Social Security spousal benefits loophole?

The Restricted Application Loophole

One Social Security loophole allowed married individuals to begin receiving a spousal benefit at full retirement age, while letting their own retirement benefit grow.

Can I stop my ex wife from getting my Social Security benefits?

There's nothing anyone can do to prevent their ex from claiming their Social Security. Even though some divorce decrees specify that one spouse will relinquish their rights to collect the other spouse's benefits, the Social Security Administration says these provisions “are worthless and are never enforced.”

Can my wife take Social Security at 62 and then switch to spousal benefit?

Only if your spouse is not yet receiving retirement benefits. In this case, you can claim your own Social Security beginning at 62 and make the switch to spousal benefits when your husband or wife files.

Which wife gets the Social Security?

If you are married and you and your spouse have worked and earned enough credits individually, you will each get your own Social Security benefit.

Can I collect Social Security from my ex husband and my current husband?

To be eligible, you must have been married to your ex-spouse for 10 years or more. If you have since remarried, you can't collect benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage ended by annulment, divorce, or death.

Can I collect Social Security on 2 husbands?

Yes, you can. Notify the Social Security Administration that you were married more than once and may qualify for benefits on more than one spouse's earnings record.

What is the 10 year marriage rule for Social Security?

Key Takeaways. A divorced spouse may be eligible to collect Social Security benefits based on the former spouse's work record. The marriage must have lasted for at least 10 years and the divorced spouse must be at least 62 years old.

Can I get my ex husband's Social Security if he remarried?

You can claim even if your ex has remarried. You can claim even if your ex hasn't retired and isn't receiving Social Security benefits (as long as your ex is at least 62). Claiming won't reduce your ex's Social Security benefits or his or her current spouse's benefits.

How do I get the $16000 Social Security bonus?

How to Get a Social Security Bonus
  1. Option 1: Increase Your Earnings.
  2. Option 2: Wait Until Age 70 to Claim Social Security Benefits.
  3. Option 3: Be Strategic With Spousal Benefits.
  4. Option 4: Make the Most of COLA Increases.

What changes are coming for Social Security in 2023?

For 2023, the changes consist of an 8.7% cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) to the monthly benefit amount, an increase in the maximum earnings subject to the Social Security tax, a rise in disability benefits, and more.

At what age is Social Security no longer taxed?

Social Security can potentially be subject to tax regardless of your age. While you may have heard at some point that Social Security is no longer taxable after 70 or some other age, this isn't the case. In reality, Social Security is taxed at any age if your income exceeds a certain level.

Can I collect half of my husband's Social Security at 64?

Key Takeaways. The maximum spousal benefit is 50% of the other spouse's full benefit. You may be eligible if you're married, formerly married, divorced, or widowed. You can collect spousal benefits as early as age 62, but in most cases, the benefits are reduced permanently if you start collecting early.

Which spouse should take Social Security first?

And if you decide that one of you will wait longer than the other to start collecting, it makes more sense for the higher earner to wait. In other words, the split strategy that many couples use is to have the lower earner collect first for as long as the couple can manage their finances on one Social Security payment.

What is the maximum Social Security benefit for a married couple in 2023?

The maximum monthly Social Security retirement benefit for a married couple in 2023 is $9,110 if each spouse waits until age 70 to receive benefits and paid the maximum Social Security tax over 35 years of earnings. Typically, the couple must be married at least a year.

What is the 50% spousal benefit in Social Security?

The spousal benefit can be as much as half of the worker's "primary insurance amount," depending on the spouse's age at retirement. If the spouse begins receiving benefits before "normal (or full) retirement age," the spouse will receive a reduced benefit.

Am I entitled to my ex husband's Social Security?

If you are divorced, your ex-spouse can receive benefits based on your record (even if you have remarried) if: Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer. Your ex-spouse is unmarried. Your ex-spouse is age 62 or older.