Finance

Can I Get My Ex-Husband’s Social Security Before He’s Eligible?

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Pricey Penny,

I used to be married to a person for nearly 19 years when he determined (unbeknownst to me) that he wished a divorce. I felt that we had a contented marriage nearly all of these years. We solely had the occasional disagreement, as most marriages do. 

The truth is, he didn’t inform me till after the divorce was finalized his causes for leaving me. He’s the daddy of our two kids. It was very devastating for me in addition to our kids when he left, though he has tried to be a superb dad because the divorce and may be very concerned of their lives. I’m 10 years 8 months older than him and am now 60 years outdated. He has remarried twice within the 9 years since our divorce.

I’ve identified for a very long time that I can accumulate Social Safety advantages based mostly on his employment, since it is going to be a lot greater than my very own profit. Nevertheless, I didn’t understand till just lately (and wasn’t advised by my monetary planner) that I can’t begin gathering Social Safety advantages till HE is at full retirement age and never when I’m at full retirement age. That might imply I can be in my 70s.

Please inform me precisely once I can begin gathering my Social Safety advantages based mostly off his revenue. And is it based mostly off his revenue when he retires, or his revenue after we obtained divorced? Additionally, is it potential for me to gather Social Safety from my very own work document when I’m at full retirement age after which change to his advantages when he’s at full retirement age?

-S.

Pricey S.,

Let’s get the dangerous information out of the way in which first: You must wait till your ex-husband is eligible for Social Safety advantages to gather on his document, however you don’t have to attend till he’s reached full retirement age. For anybody born in 1960 or later, full retirement age is 67. Meaning you’d be eligible for spousal advantages when your ex is 62, not 67.

After all, that doesn’t do you a lot good. You’d nonetheless be at the least 72 by the point you can begin spousal advantages.


You’ll be able to’t take your individual advantages and change to your ex-husband’s profit afterward. That’s an possibility that’s solely accessible should you had been born earlier than Jan. 2, 1954. (The identical rule applies for individuals who wish to begin with a spousal profit after which change to their very own profit later.)

Social Safety permits divorced partner advantages as a result of each spouses contribute economically to a wedding, even when one individual earns much more. However sadly, the principles depart the lower-earning partner in a bind in the event that they’re considerably older.

I get that each one of that is tough to just accept, particularly given that you simply had been blindsided by the tip of your marriage. However you want to deal with the right way to maximize your individual retirement advantages. Claiming your ex’s advantages merely isn’t viable.

Regardless that your ex-husband outearned you, don’t assume that you simply’d accumulate extra if spousal advantages had been a chance. The utmost spousal profit is 50% of the partner’s full retirement age profit — and that’s just for spouses and ex-spouses who wait till their very own full retirement age. Spouses who begin at age 62 solely obtain 32.5%.

If you take your individual retirement advantages, you may earn 8% delayed retirement credit for annually you maintain off previous full retirement age till you’re 70. However you may’t earn delayed retirement credit with spousal advantages. You’d accumulate your most profit at 67, your full retirement age.

Many individuals will really get more cash taking their very own profit as an alternative of spousal advantages, even when the partner was the a lot greater earner. As of April 2022, the common month-to-month spousal profit was simply $837, in comparison with $1,666 for retired staff.

Social Safety bases advantages on 35 years’ value of earnings. Should you work lower than 35 years, your revenue for the non-working years is entered as zero. The extra years you may work, clearly, the larger your profit can be.

You’ll in all probability wish to delay advantages for so long as potential, particularly should you’re in good well being. Beginning Social Safety at age 70 ends in a profit that’s about 77% greater in comparison with beginning as quickly as you’re eligible at 62.

Within the meantime, deal with saving as a lot as potential for retirement. Because you’re over 50, you may contribute $7,000 to a Roth IRA in 2022. The bounds for many office plans, like 401(ok)s and 403(b)s are even greater. You’ll be able to contribute as much as $20,500 plus an additional $6,500 catch-up that’s allowed for individuals 50 and older.

I’m sorry that you simply’ve been dealt this most tough hand. However deal with what you may management.

There’s nonetheless loads you are able to do to safe the comfy retirement you deserve.

Robin Hartill is a licensed monetary planner and a senior author at The BaghdadTime. Ship your tough cash inquiries to [email protected].


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