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Divorced Widow(er) Benefits

April 27, 2023

Shouldn't I Be Entitled To My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Higher Benefit Amount Instead Of Mine?

April 27, 2023

Is It True That I Am Not Entitled To My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Full Benefit?

March 22, 2023

When Should My Brother's Ex-Wife Apply For Benefits And What Documents Will She Need?

March 5, 2023

How Do I Calculate The Amount I Would Receive If I Apply For Survivor Benefits?

January 27, 2023

Can You Work And Collect Your Deceased Ex-Spouse's Social Security?

January 9, 2023

Do I Qualify For Benefits Based On My Late Ex-Husband's Earnings?

December 19, 2022

Can I Qualify For Benefits As A Surviving Ex-Spouse?

December 7, 2022

Can Someone Claim Divorced Widower Benefits And Remarry While Allowing Their Own Benefit Amount To Grow?

November 26, 2022

Can I Collect My Ex-Husband's Social Security?

November 19, 2022

Is Now The Best Time For Me To Claim Benefits On My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Account?

October 23, 2022

Is There Any Way That I Could Qualify For Benefits From My Deceased Ex-Husband?

October 20, 2022

What Evidence Can I Submit To Prove A Common Law Marriage?

October 2, 2022

Should I Get Back Payments From The Date Of My Ex-Husband's Death, Or When I Turned Age 50?

September 19, 2022

If More Than One Ex-Spouse Is Eligible For Survivor Benefits Is Their Benefit Amount Divided?

September 11, 2022

Shouldn't I Get Something For Being Married To My Deceased Ex-Spouse For 23 Years?

September 4, 2022

Is It Possible For Me To Claim Benefits On My Deceased Second Spouse's Account At Age 60 Even If I Subsequently Got Married And Divorced?

August 8, 2022

Can I Get Some Of My Deceased Ex's Social Security?

August 8, 2022

Will I Be Able To Apply For Divorced Spousal Benefits?

June 27, 2022

Don't I Qualify For Survivor Benefits Starting September 2021?

March 19, 2022

Am I Entitled To Anything From My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Account?

March 5, 2022

Does It Make A Difference If A Judge Ordered My Divorce Due To Severe Abuse By My Deceased Husband?

February 19, 2022

Can I Collect Benefits From My Deceased Ex-Husband's Record?

January 12, 2022

What Should I Do?

September 24, 2021

What's The Difference Between VA Survivor Benefits And Social Security Widow's Benefits?

September 10, 2021

Is My Ex-Wife's Social Security Unavailable To Me Now Because She Died?

July 22, 2021

Do I Qualify For Benefits On My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Record?

July 17, 2021

Are My Calculations Correct?

July 11, 2021

Can I Collect Social Security From My First Husband Who Is Now Deceased?

July 10, 2021

What Percentage Of Survivor Benefits Would I Receive If I Start Drawing At Age 65?

July 8, 2021

Will I Automatically Start Getting Survivor Benefits If My Ex Dies?

June 13, 2021

Will I Receive The Full Amount That My Ex-Spouse Was Getting?

May 18, 2021

Is The SSA-2 The Correct Application Form?

April 19, 2021

Can I Get My Second Husband's Social Security?

April 18, 2021

If My Ex-Spouse Dies Am I Allowed To Claim His Benefit If It's More Than Mine?

April 7, 2021

Can You Still Receive Spousal Benefits If You Were Divorced At The Time Of Death?

April 2, 2021

If I Retire At Age 60 What Percentage Of My Ex-Spouse's SS Can I Receive Monthly?

April 1, 2021

Am I Entitled To Benefits On My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Record?

March 31, 2021

Can A Person Who Earns $20K Per Year Draw A Widow's Pension From Their Ex-Spouse?

March 16, 2021

If My Ex-Spouse Dies Would I Get A Full Disability Check Off Of His Work Record?

March 3, 2021

Is My Friend Entitled To Her Ex-Husband's Benefits?

February 26, 2021

Can I Claim Benefits From My Ex-Husband's Record And Leave My Benefit To Age 70?

January 13, 2021

Is It True That I Could Get Social Security Benefits If My Ex-Husband Dies?

December 3, 2020

Will I Be Eligible For Any Benefits From My Ex-Husband's Social Security?

October 20, 2020

Should I Have Signed Up Sooner?

September 10, 2020

Is The Social Security Deposit I Received Related To My Ex-Husband's Death?

August 31, 2020

Am I Eligible For Survivor Benefits From My Ex-Husband Under The First Wives Rule?

August 11, 2020

How Much Is My Husband's Ex-Wife Entitled To When He Passes Away?

August 9, 2020

Can An Ex-Wife Get Survivor Benefits If She Married Someone Else Before Her Ex-Spouse Dies?

August 1, 2020

Why Did My Benefit Amount Increase After My Ex-Spouse Died?

July 31, 2020

Can A Divorced Spouse Receive The Same Amount That Their Deceased Spouse Was Paid?

July 28, 2020

Can I Receive My Ex-Husband's Social Security?

June 14, 2020

Can You Explain The Purpose Of A 'Certificate Of Election For Reduced Widow(er)'s And Surviving Divorced Spouse's Benefits?

June 7, 2020

Should I Sign The Form That Social Security Sent Me?

May 14, 2020

Am I Eligible For Divorced Widow's Benefits If My Ex-Husband Dies Before Me?

May 3, 2020

How Is The 50% Spousal Benefit Calculated?

March 12, 2020

Should I Question My Survivor Benefit Rate?

February 10, 2020

If I Get Divorced Can I Get My Ex-Husband's Social Security?

October 31, 2019

Can I Collect Off Of My Ex-Husband Now Or Do I Have To Wait Until I'm 62?

October 4, 2019

Is My Friend Entitled To Benefits From Her Deceased Ex-Husband's Social Security?

March 5, 2019

Am I Eligible For Benefits On My Deceased Ex-Spouse's Record?

January 18, 2019

Is There A Waiting Period Before You Can File For Benefits On The Record Of A Deceased Ex-Spouse?

January 2, 2019

Which Bend Points Will Be Used To Calculate My Survivor Benefit Rate?

December 7, 2018

Will I Receive A Higher Benefit Amount When My Ex-Spouse Dies?

December 1, 2018

Can I Go Back And Claim Benefits On My Deceased Ex-Husband's Account For The Years When I Was Age 62 To 66?

November 10, 2018

Would My Drawing Divorced Survivor Benefits Have A Negative Impact On My Ex's Widow?

November 8, 2018

How Can I Prove That My Common Law Marriage Lasted 10 Years?

October 13, 2018

Would My Sister's Survivor Rate Be The Same Even If She Starts Drawing Before Her Full Retirement Age?

August 21, 2018

If I File For Survivor Benefits At Age 66 Would I Receive The Amount That My Ex-Husband Was Receiving When He Died?

September 14, 2019

Is It Correct That My Survivor Benefit Rate Won't Be Higher If I Wait Until Age 70?

August 25, 2019

Will My Survivor Benefits Increase When I Reach Age 62?

August 5, 2019

Would I Be Able To Draw Higher Benefits On My Deceased Ex-Husband's Record?

April 30, 2019

Why Am I Not Getting As Much As I Was Told?

August 10, 2018

Will SSA Really Suspend My Survivor Benefits When I Reach Age 62?

July 20, 2018

Would I Qualify For My Ex's Full Benefit Amount If He Dies?

Is A Divorced Widow Required To Apply For Her Ex-Husband's Social Security?

June 28, 2018

Can I Get Full Ex-Spouse Survivor Benefits If I Take Retirement Or Spousal Benefits First?

June 7, 2018

Am I Eligible To Receive Spousal Benefits On My Deceased Ex's Record?

May 23, 2018

If My Ex-Husband Dies Before My Present Husband Could I File For Survivor Benefits On His Record?

May 11, 2018

Am I Eligible For My Ex's Benefits?

April 25, 2018

Can My Mother Also Draw Benefits From Another Husband's Record?

April 25, 2018

If My Ex-Husband Dies Will I Be Able To Collect Social Security On His Record?

April 19, 2018

Does This Change My Situation?

April 17, 2018

Is The Information I Received From Social Security Correct?

April 16, 2018

When Is The Earliest Time That I Can Apply For Divorced Widow's Benefits?

April 15, 2018

Why Can't I Receive Benefits On My Deceased First Husband's Record?

April 8, 2018

Is This Correct?

March 30, 2018

Could I Draw Benefits Off Of My First Spouse If I Divorce My Second Spouse?

March 22, 2018

Will I Be Able To Collect My Deceased Ex-Husband's Social Security?

March 16, 2018

If I Die After Reaching Age 70 Will My Ex-Wife Receive The Full Amount That I Was Receiving?

March 8, 2018

Does The Increase In My Survivor Benefit Rate Mean That The Reduction I Took No Longer Applies?

March 7, 2018

Would My Ex-Wife Get My Age 70 Rate Or My Age 66 Rate If I Die?

March 3, 2018

Can I Collect Survivor Benefits On My Ex's Record Even If His Benefit Is Smaller Than Mine?

March 1, 2018

Can I Get Surviving Divorced Spouse's Benefits?

February 22, 2018

Would I Be Eligible For Divorced Surviving Spousal Benefits?

February 16, 2018

Can I Collect My Ex-Spouse's Benefits?

February 15, 2018

Would I Be Able To Collect Benefits On My Ex-Spouse's Record?

January 23, 2018

Can I Get Benefits On My Ex's Record If He Dies Outside The U.S.?

January 19, 2018

Will I Be Able To Collect Widow's Benefits From My 1st Husband?

January 14, 2018

Could I Also Collect My Social Security If I'm Receiving Divorced Widow's Benefits?

January 10, 2018

Is There Anything I Can Do?

About the Author

Laurence J. Kotlikoff 

Laurence J. Kotlikoff is a William Fairfield Warren Professor and Professor of Economics at Boston University, a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, a Fellow of the Econometric Society, and a Research Associate of the National Bureau of Economic Research.
Professor Kotlikoff received his B.A. in Economics from the University of Pennsylvania in 1973 and his Ph.D. in Economics from Harvard University in 1977. Kotlikoff is the Director of the Fiscal Analysis Center.
A New York Times Bestselling author, he has written nineteen books and hundreds of professional articles and op-eds. He is a frequent television and radio guest. His columns have appeared in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, London Financial Times, the Boston Globe, Bloomberg, Forbes, Yahoo.com, Fortune, and other major publications. In 2014, The Economist named him one of the world's 25 most influential economists