Social Security, Women, And Divorce

Key facts you should know

Posted to Resource Articles by Elizabeth Cox on Tue, 02/17/2009 - 7:10pm

On average, women enter their retirement years poorer than men. This is particularly true for divorcing women. The following statistics, provided by the Social Security Administration (June, 2006), bear evidence to this claim:

• In 2004, the average annual Social Security income received by women 65+ was 76% of that received by men.

• Nationwide, Social Security comprises 53% of the income of elderly unmarried women, but only 38% of income for elderly unmarried men.

Part of the reason for this disparity is that women earn less than men on average. Another factor is that if a person (most often a woman) takes time off from the workforce to take care of his/her children or the elderly, the caregiver's Social Security retirement benefits decline. If a person has a few years of no earnings or low earnings, the benefit amount would typically be lower than if that person had worked steadily.

When the Social Security program was designed in the 1930s, it was based on the "traditional" family model in which women stayed at home and focused on homemaking and child-rearing. When a woman's husband retired, he received his Social Security check and she received half the value of his check until he died. Then she received 100 percent. (I'm not sure what the message is here: That homemaking and child-rearing is half as valuable as participating in the workforce? Or that dependent spouses should stay financially dependent)?

In any event, the 50% number rears its head again in the Social Security program's policy toward divorce. Here are some rules:

1. If you divorce after at least 10 years of marriage and don't remarry, you can collect retirement benefits on your former spouse's Social Security record if you are at least age 62 and if your former spouse is entitled to or receiving benefits. This is true whether your ex remarries or not.

2. Full retirement age for Social Security is 65 for those born in 1937 or before and 67 for those born in 1960 or after. For those born in between these years, there is a sliding scale. You can still begin accessing Social Security retirement benefits at age 62, but you will lock in a payment stream that is approximately 30 percent lower than if you wait until your full retirement age.

3. The amount you are entitled to receive is 50% of your ex's Social Security benefit or your own benefit based on your own employment history, whichever is greater.

4. If you remarry, you generally cannot collect benefits on your ex's record unless your later marriage ends (whether by death, divorce, or annulment).

5. If your divorced spouse dies, you can receive 100% of his benefits as a widow/widower if the marriage lasted 10 years or more.

6. Depending on your income bracket, 85% of Social Security benefits can be taxable.

7. One benefit to Social Security is that even if you collect benefits from your ex's record, this doesn't impact his benefit in any way, so it's not a negotiation point in divorce. In fact, he doesn't even have to know when you start receiving benefits.

For more information, check out the Social Security Administration's website at www.ssa.gov.

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Comments

Ex collecting social security

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Wed, 01/09/2013 - 2:46pm.

How can i found out if my ex husband is collecting social security. I have to pay him alimony until he collect it.

My mom is 67 my dad is

Submitted by Lorraine (not verified) on Wed, 11/07/2012 - 9:56pm.

My mom is 67 my dad is 73.they have been married for 45 years .they get benefits from ss.he wants to divorce and remarrie if he dies after remarring will my mo recieve total amount of benefit of will his new wife recieve them ?

Social Security

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Mon, 10/08/2012 - 5:26pm.

been divorced 27 yrs. My ex husband died 2 yrs ago-his 2nd wife died 2 months later. No children between them or him & myself. Can i collect my exhusbands Social security or retirement im in NJ he had moved to Florida

Drawing benefits

Submitted by Davina (not verified) on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 10:35pm.

I am on ssdi at 56, divorced,and have a son that is disabled, living in my home,with his kids. My ex helps support my son and kids. Can my ex get benefits because I am drawing ssdi, or can I draw anything on his record. He is about to file for disability. And what would happen if we remarried?

Drawing benefits

Submitted by Davina (not verified) on Thu, 09/13/2012 - 10:31pm.

Collect back child support from deceased ex-husband?

Submitted by Robin (not verified) on Thu, 09/06/2012 - 10:01pm.

My ex past away less that 2 weeks ago owing over $20,000 in back child support. Can I collect any from his survivor death benefit? We were married 8 1/2 years so I don't qualify for ex-spouse benefits.

Can I draw on my ex's SSI when I get to 62 years old then change

Submitted by wondering (not verified) on Wed, 09/05/2012 - 2:00pm.

Can I draw on my ex's SSI when I get to 62 years old then change it to mine at 70 years old? So I could start getting SSI on hers (which is low earner) but then I would be able to adjust it to mine at 70 which would be high earner? We were married over 15 years. I have not remarried.

DRAWING AGAINST EX HUSBANDS SSI INCOME

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 11:59pm.

I HAVE BEEN MARRIED AND DIVORCED TWICE. I AM NOT MARRIED NOW AND PLAN ON STAYING THAT WAY. I AM 62YRS OLD AND WILL START DRAWING MY FIRST CHECK THE 3RD WEEK IN SEPT, THIS WILL BE FROM MY OWN ACCOUNT. WHAT CAN I EXPECT FROM MY 2 EX HUSBANDS SSI? I WAS MARRIED 10 YRS 1ST HUSBAND. 23 YRS 2ND HUSBAND.

SSI

Submitted by Patricia Hammond (not verified) on Sun, 09/23/2012 - 4:25pm.

I am on SSI and was married to 1st husband for 17 years. I remarried for 1 year on second husban. I have been divorced since 1991, My age is 63 years old. When can I collect from first husband and he is 63 and will be retiring next year. How much will I receive? I only get 763.00 a month since 1997. Thank you for your reply.

WIDOWERS BENEFITS

Submitted by HELEN (not verified) on Mon, 08/13/2012 - 2:34pm.

MY OLDER HUSBAND ( 84) PASSED AWAY. HE WAS COLLECTING SS.. I WAS 56. I AM NOW 58 HAVE MET SOMEONE AND WOULD LIKE TO REMARRY. I CANNOT COLLECT ANY AMOUNT OF WIDOWERS SS UNTIL I AM 60 BUT I LOSE EVERYTHING IF I AM MARRIED ON THE DAY I TURN 60. SO EITHER I WAIT 2 YEARS TO GET MARRIED TO SOMEONE WHO IS ALREADY 69, OR I DON'T GET MARRIED AT ALL,,,, OR I GET MARRIED NOW,, GET DIVORCED JUST BEFORE MY 60TH BIRTHDAY, AND THEN REMARRY HIM THIS IS THE WAY I UNDERSTAND IT,,, AM I CORRECT. SO I WILL POTENTIALLY LOSE WIDOWERS BENEFITS FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE IF I GET MARRIED AGAIN BEFORE 60 IN ADDITION, MY FIANCEES WIFE DIED 3 YEARS AGO, BUT HE WAS MORE THAN 60 YEARS OLD, COLLECTS ON HER ( HE IS STILL WORKING) AND WILL NOT LOSE HIS IF WE MARRY. I APPRECIATE ANY INFORMATION ANYONE HAS TO THIS DILEMA

collecting deceased husband's Social Security again

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Tue, 07/24/2012 - 2:24pm.

I was married, but separated from my 2nd husband when he died.I got Social Security for 10 years for me and my daughter, I remarried in 1991. I'm 67 and don't have any income.I need to know if I divorce my present husband and I start getting my deceased husband's Social Security again?

2 people drawing from one person

Submitted by Molly Bridwell (not verified) on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 2:01pm.

My husband's ex wife draws from his social security. Can two different people draw from the same man. We have been married for 15 years now and I am only 60. If his ex wife is still drawing when I hit retirement age can I draw from him?

2 people drawing from one person

Submitted by Molly Bridwell (not verified) on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 2:01pm.

survivors benefits

Submitted by Frank De La Garza (not verified) on Sun, 07/15/2012 - 6:40pm.

My father, of age 91, retired and was in a nursing home for the past 9 years, passed away on 06/28/2012. Is my mother, of age 81 and retired also, entitled to receive my father's June social secruity check even though it was 2 days short of the end of the month?

My dad was married to his

Submitted by Confused (not verified) on Sun, 07/15/2012 - 10:19am.

My dad was married to his first wife for maybe 10 years and have two adult children at this time. Now they have been divorced well over 24 years +. My dad never remarried but is his first wife still entitled to monies and security he's earrnd since thier divorce?

No Understanding

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Mon, 06/25/2012 - 8:47pm.

People please learn to read and fully understand what you are reading before you start pointing fingers at people and name calling.. These are not rules and laws that were designed yesterday they have been in place for years. If a man or woman was married to someone for 10 or more years and they are divorced, suddenly 2 years after the divorce the person passes away the individual is in-titled to draw money off of their ex-spouses social security at age 62 as long as they have not remarried. I mean really why all the name calling. People are asking serious questions here and all I am seeing is a bunch of name calling. For those of you that have these questions I highly suggest that you go to the social security website where most of your questions can be answered. www.ssa.gov. There is nothing worse than coming to site in hopes of finding answers or suggestions related to your questions, and you find a bunch of misinformed individuals throwing out a bunch of misleading information. Good Luck to each of you with your situation, as the social security process can be very long an detailed but continue to follow through until you understand and are satisfied with the answers. (Good Luck)

Black Widows, male and female

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Fri, 09/14/2012 - 7:01pm.

I have read most of these post and some people are asking serious questions true enough, but others on here are out for money only, people marry others for financial gain and then kill them off and re-marry and then divorce, cause they now know that they have two people they can draw off of and so forth, This law need to change, once you marry another then all benefits from the first husband ends and if you have not been married for 10 yrs or more you should get nothing unless that person leave assets to you, but no one speaks of the children rather grown or not from the deceased spouse, I only here concern for a spouse, my father was married for over 50 yrs to my mom and then she died and he remarried some yrs later and then he died and the second wife took everything, his pension that was in place before she even came into the picture a pension of over 40 yrs and life insurance, bank accounts and shunned myself and his siblings off and, now come to find out all of his assets she put into a trust in her name, she re-married one of his army buddies and then divorced him and you mean to tell me she is entitled to my dad monies and his children are left with nothing and they have only been married 6 yrs, something is not right with this picture

Social Security Benefits

Submitted by Anne Taber Katz (not verified) on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 11:04am.

My former husband and I were married in 1974, and were divorced in 2005. I worked before our marriage, but only for a year or so after our marriage. My husband was a heart surgeon and had a very rigorous schedule. I was a stay at home mom, wife, homemaker, and worked for years in our community, as a room mother, soccer mom, etc. My husband did not want me to work outside of our home, and I really did need to be home. While going through our divorce, a person at the Social Security Administration explained to me that I could begin to draw benefits on my own work record at age 62 and, then, begin to draw benefits based on my former husband's work record when I was 66 years old. I would be eligible, at that time, to receive one half of his benefits at age 66. I am now 66, and recently filed for benefits based upon my former husband's work record. The woman with whom I spoke at the Social Security Adminstration helped me to apply for these benefits and told me that the amount I should expect to receive would be $1,198.00 monthly, half of my husband's benefit at age 66. I received a letter shortly thereafter, telling me that this application had been approved; it had been based on my former husband's work record under his social security number. Several weeks later, I received another letter, letting me know that I would be receiving $870.00 monthly. When I called the Social Security Office I had visited, the woman with whom I had previously spoken, told me that she did not understand this. She added that, since I had begun to receive benefits based upon my own record, that this was the reason I would continue to receive benefits under my record, but I should be receiving an amount based upon my former husband's work record which, combined with my benefits, would total one half of my former husband's benefits. She suggested that I file an appeal, which I have done. I have heard nothing yet, but just received another check from Social Security for $870.00. I do not understand why benefits to me, based upon my former husband's work record, were first approved under his social security number, and then this seemed to have been reversed. I am 66, have not been able to find work, have a limited amount of savings, and am concerned about my financial future. Could you please advise me? Thank you, Anne Taber Katz

Anne Taber Katz question

Submitted by Joy Leonard (not verified) on Mon, 07/16/2012 - 11:24am.

I would like to see what the advice was that was provided to Anne. I am 63 and started to receive early SSA benefits on my record at 62. I went today to apply for divorced spouses's benefits as I am really struggling financially. I am working part time as well. I had researched the qualifying criteria to receive benefits based on his work recork and I should be eligible. At the SSA office today, I was told I was ineligible and that due to confidentiality, they could give me no further information. I am frustrated because all of the info I have read supports that I would be eligible and I have no doubt that his earnings greatly exceeded mine. Is it because I am still working? One relevant article I found referred to "non working divorced spouse"... Any light on this subject I would much appreciate. Thank you, Joy Leonard

your benefit

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Mon, 07/30/2012 - 1:39pm.

Anne. The same thing happened to me. While married, after 25 years and having quit work ten years ago to care for child, husband walked out of the marriage. I started collecting Soc sec 3 yrs ago at age 62. Husbands Soc sec is much higher than mine. I visited the Soc sec admin personally and the very unfriendly woman told me I could not draw on his Soc sec because I started drawing on mine at 62 and he is not full retirement age. I am thinking of visiting an attorney because I hear and read different scenarios from Soc sec Dept.

divorce and didability

Submitted by Guest alma hall (not verified) on Wed, 06/13/2012 - 8:49am.

I have been divorced from my exhusband 4 day shy of ten years am i intitled to any of his disability income i never remarried.

father passed away

Submitted by Linda (not verified) on Fri, 06/08/2012 - 12:50pm.

My mother is now 65 my fatber passed away March 29, 2012 he was getting SS. My mother is still working can she file for widow benifits and recicive and still work?

Can you receive two SS benefits at the same time?

Submitted by Tricia (not verified) on Sun, 06/03/2012 - 12:53am.

At 60, I received SS Widows benefits based on my deceased ex-husband's SS#. At 61, I became permanently Disabled and now receive SS Disability benefits based on my SS#. Can I be entitled to BOTH benefits at the same time or do I have to give up my Widow's benefit because I'm now disabled? I can not find any information on my situation. I only see dual benefits based on Worker's Comp and Widows. Does anybody know the answer to my question. If so, please let me know the answer! Thanks!

Ladies please...

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Fri, 05/25/2012 - 2:56am.

#1 this page is associated with First Wives World.com. It is written specifically for women who were FIRST WIVES...meaning the man had never been married before. If you carefully read the article on the page you can easily decifer at what age and under what circumstances you can draw SS (NOT SSI) on an ex husband. This does not effect HIS SS Benefits one iota, not one single bit. He will get whatever he was going to get..what ever his situation is. ............................................ Now IF he is dead everything changes. His first wife, second wife, third wife whatever can draw a FULL/100% widows benefit as long as they were married for at least 10 YEARS and she is NOT remarried and remains unmarried while receiving the benefits Conceivably a deceased man could have 5-6-7 women drawing full benefits IF he capriciously married every decade. One does not effect the other and as the article says YOUR dealings with SS are private and no one elses business. He is not notified when you file or told how much you get. Since women only make about 70 cents on the $1 of men and live longer this sorta evens out that pay disparity. And ladies quit being so catty and defensive that you weren't his first wife. You sound childish. There are many reasons people get divorced and 3 sides to every story. Pax

CAN THE WIDOW BENEFITS RUN OUT?

Submitted by Lee (not verified) on Mon, 10/01/2012 - 8:46pm.

If a deceased husband that was married more than once & both the wives are eligible for his benefits, and the first ex-wife starts drawing 10 years earlier than the other wife- can the other wife's benefits run out or be reduced due to the 1st wife drawing so much earlier?

2nd Wives...

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Sun, 05/27/2012 - 7:03am.

OK... from a guys perspective I have a question. I REmarried after my 1st marriage fell apart. My 2nd wife and I were married (with NO kids) for 10.5 years when she said she was not happy and wanted a divorce. Is my 2nd wife entitled to receive any benefit? You said it does not change my benefit? If I the x-hubby remarries again (God only knows why) would this change anything for wife #1 or #2? If #1 or #2 ever marry again, this blocks their ability to receive an SS benefit based on MY (hubby) earnings? Thanks for your input. While I understand the disparity in wage earners, I also understand the 'gold digger' concept that is alive and well. Why could'nt my Son (from 1st marriage) receive my benefit? Thank you!

Social Security Benefits

Submitted by Anne Taber Katz (not verified) on Fri, 05/04/2012 - 10:11am.

My former husband and I were married from 1974 through 2005. I worked during only the first year and a half of our marriage. I was a stay at home wife, mother, and homemaker. During the divorce process, I learned from the Social Security Administration that I had the option of collecting benefits based upon my own record at age 62 (which I did), and then would be eligible to receive benefits based upon my former husband's work record at age 66. I was told that I would receive one half of his total benefits should I wait until age 66. Recently, I completed the application for benefits based upon my former husband's work record at the local Social Security office. I was given the sum I could expect to receive monthly, and this was one half of my former husband's total benefit. I received a letter soon after letting me know that my application had been approved. Then, in April, I received another letter advising me that the benefit based upon my husband's work record was considerably less than that which had been estimated. This disparity will make a substantial difference in my life. I don't know what to do. They advised me that I had the option to appeal.

Coming from me, an x wife...

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Tue, 05/22/2012 - 12:10am.

Coming from me, an x wife... I have to say I can stand women who want to.count on the x husbands benifits....it makes me sick.... You are divorced!!! Live your own life and go make your own money!!!! The x husband has his own life and worked hard to earn that money so he could retire in peace..... I never took advantage of my x husband like that.... And we have a child involved! I just got off my ass and got my own job!!! Really!!! Some women are so dependent on everyone else! Horrible! Alissa

X husband and social security benefits

Submitted by Joanie (not verified) on Mon, 09/03/2012 - 8:26pm.

I was married almost 31 yrs when my now ex decided he wasn't happy and wanted a divorce.. Divorced in 2000..I was 54 and him 56. I never worked and was a stay at home mom..I also have medical problems and couldn't work at all.. He screwed me out of any alimony, and at 56, retired from his 6 figure a yr. job, just 9 mos. after the divorce was final! At 62, I applied for SS on his earnings..I get 1/2 of what he gets..He is remarried..I am not..Why should I not collect on his SS? Get off my dead ass and get a job now at 66 yrs. of age? Give me a break! With no work resume and my age plus not being well, what kind of work could and would I be hired to do? Don't be ludicrous!! I deserve that money since I helped him get to where he was for 31 years, before HIS surprise divorce! So Alissa, good for you that you were willing, able and young enough to go get a job and earn your own money! I am struggling and will be out of my house soon since I can't afford to keep up mortgage and taxes. I am NOT taking anything away from him by collecting SS on his earnings and he gives me nothing in support money as I said..He gets his full amount of SS.. Mine is not much and now with medicare deducting from it, it's much less..So, don't be making nasty cracks about other women who NEED and deserve to collect on their ex's SS. BTW, the one who's happy you're not collecting on his SS, is the Government! PS. My ex is very much enjoying his new retired life and all MY 'should be' alimony money with the new wife...Joanie

Ex wives collecting

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Fri, 08/10/2012 - 8:31pm.

So you're an ex wife, so you got your a$$ up and got your own job and you have a child together this doesn't make you special. I've met women who were married for years to hard working men who mistreated them physically, emotionally, sexually and cheated on them as well. Women who gave their everything for their husbands and family. The EX WIVES who held it together for the childrens sake or just because they wanted to try and make it work (and for the grace of God made it out alive) have more then a right to collect off those men. If the law set it up that a wife OR a husband (remember husbands collect too) can collect, who are you to cast a stone. What are you going to do if you can no longer work due to illness or physical disabilities, you might be happy to have this type of set up to fall back on. If you've made enough or more then your ex to live on then more power to you. However you should watch your words because when the tables turn (and they do) crow is a dry meat to eat. How things happen in the lives of others especially if you don't know everyones situation (and how could you unless you're God) gives you NO RIGHT to pass judgement on anyone else REALLY ALISSA!!! HORRIBLE!!! Remember, even if the ex-wife/wives collect, it doesn't take away from what the man gets. By law he doesn't even have to know she's/they are getting SS. He could have had 5 wives and been married to each for 10 years and they all could collect including him. So how's his little feelings going to get hurt if his pocket book isn't being pinched? REALLY!

Social Security Benefits

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Sat, 07/07/2012 - 7:41am.

I would like to comment on your post. I for one, think you have a lot of nerve to make decisions for other women. And No we as women who have an ex-husband and are eligible to collect on his Social Security might be a life saving for some. If a woman has given her life to this man and then divorces after let's say, 25yrs. You better believe she is entitled to his social security. This does not say that she is needy nor dependent. It is the law and also I might add, most of these women are still working and if the ex spouse's social security is greater than her own, of course she would collect on the ex's social security. I find your post offensive to othr women. I for one am not counting the days of my ex's retirement nor his death. But just the same, after 25 years of marriage and raising 2 daughters, I wil be entitled to his social security, because his is greater by far than my own social security. Apparently you might be in a better situation financially than most women when they reach the retirement age. It is not about going out and finding a job, etc. Most women actully are in the work force at an older age, if the ex has passed in order to survive, and again I reiterate this is not greed. She is entitled to a percentage of the ex's social security.

You need to mind your own

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Sat, 06/30/2012 - 5:33pm.

You need to mind your own business and quite worrying about every one else's. You are not in every one else's shoes and have no right condemn any ex-wife. If they are entitled to it and it doesn't affect the ex than who is it hurting ? I have two kids and stayed home many nights and also worked a full time job raising them while my ex worked nights for 21 years so don't tell me I am not entitled to my ex -husbands ss when I turn 62. Mind your own business!!!!!!!!

Social security is NOT your ex's retirement fund!

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Sat, 06/16/2012 - 10:53pm.

Alissa, it actually is not 'taking advantage' of the ex husband. This program was designed largely in part because of the value system of this country. The United States encouraged and supported the family arrangement and the sacrifices made by the first wife to be stay at home mom's and raise well educated, respectful and productive members of society. These values were the backbone and stability of this nation. For my part I was a stay at home mom for 23 years at my husbands request. It was not until my children were grown that I left, created a new life for myself and went to college. Just shy of receiving my degree I was diagnosed with terminal cancer and now live on disability benefits totaling less than $300 a month due to MY lack of involvement in the work force at my husbands request. Social security is meant for women who gave their all to their husbands, children and country and paid into the program by supporting their husbands. YOU are not being gracious or kind to him by not taking the opportunity that YOU earned you are simply turning down what is rightfully yours. If I were 66 and receiving basic social security and NOT social security disability at the age of 45 for terminal cancer I would be receiving more than $2000 a month... But I am not. If I were 66 and receiving basic social security and receiving the much larger amount based on my ex husbands wages and not my own they would have been rightfully earned by my full time job as wife, mother, and all that those responsibilities entail if being handled properly and with love. You are mistaken on your attitude and I hope that you do not forfeit your rights.... You just may need them because life has a way of surprising you with events you never could have imagined. More importantly social security is NOT a retirement plan and few are able to survive comfortably on it.... Just ask around. Retirement is what your husband is personally saving or investing in and not a partially federally funded program for the nations elderly that they paid into. Don't worry though... Likely the money will be long gone by the time you would need it so you won't feel as if you are taking advantage. Hopefully YOU will have saved around $500k for your own medical and housing needs because that is what it is estimated to cost you when you are 66 and older if you are a mere 40 years old right now...

Selfish X-Wives

Submitted by Sara (not verified) on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 11:59pm.

Wow! How selfish! Why would you begrudge first wives from qualifying for an only 50% of their ex-husband's SSI benefit. She can only qualify if married for at least 10 years, which means she most likely had children. Since she was the first wife, and it lasted 10 years, her future lifetime earnings would likely be suppressed for the sake of her children, her marriage, and to not create a schedule that did not negatively impacted her husband's career, or limited his ability to travel or work odd hours. After all, it is important someone focus on their career, which increases that person's SSI contribution, but only because he could know someone was making sure his children were alright. She probably also earned some of her own SSI, so really she would have been paid something anyways. If she earned the equivalent of 30% of his earnings, then this would leave a much smaller benefit difference amount. The most vulnerable women in terms of suppressed lifetime earnings, will be women who were married and had children during a time frame that spanned their twenties to thirties, or women who had to move a lot for their husband's careers. The second wife may never have had suppressed earnings in their lifetime. Sometimes the second wife has never had to limit, quit or change a job because their husband's career demanded travel, long or odd hours. Even Men who make such sacrifices deserve at least 50% of their spouse's SSI benefit, since their services of childcare and household duties, often in combination with some earnings, make it possible for the other spouse to travel or work longer or odd hours. This increases that spouses advancement up a career ladder, and starts early retirement savings that can compound during the younger years. It should not be treated as if the last out gets a pot of gold. Why would anyone qualify if not disabled and they had no children? Also, why would a subsequent wife of only 2 years before a man die qualify if she had no child with him? I can see how a military wife, or any wife of a man who had a job transfer that negatively impacted his wives earnings would deserve benefits.

what a sorry a** comment

Submitted by amy shelton (not verified) on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:18pm.

well i just gotta say my peace! when my husband and i married he had a decent job, that paid decent money that he pretty much blowed. He owned no land, no house, just a few boy toys. After moving in together I, me not him, went and borrowed the money to put him in business for himself. After being in this position, and right after i got pregnant with our son he informed me he would rather me stay home and take care of our kids rather than send them to strangers in a daycare. I had worked all my life from age 15 until we got together, so i didnt just sit on my ass! Also while I was at home taking care of him, our 2 kids, our home, even done the mowing and the weedeating on 26 acres of land that was also mine; I also handled all the paperwork, advertising, bids, estimates, payroll, taxes and anything else that needed to be done including picking up and hauling the occasional load of rock or block (masonry business) I also went back and ammended his past taxes that he had failed to file and as soon as the irs caught wind that he had married a girl that actually owned land and a home that they could put a lien on, they came straight after me for the 40,000 they wanted him to pay. after amending his past taxes i not only got his amount due down to right over 13,000, they took my earned income credit from my first child for 2 years and when our son was born they took it for another 3. thats a total of 5 years I had my refund taken to pay a debt that had nothing to do with me! Now 11 years later and now that my kids are alittle older and after having lived apart for a year and a half, and getting back together, recently i became disabled. Out of the blue woke up one morning with my right dominant hand paralized. But in order to receive HALF of the social security taxes we paid in through our small business my husband not ex, but my husband had to go sign a piece of paper to allow me to be able to draw off HALF of the earnings from a business that I bank rolled! His credit was shot when we got together, I had perfect credit, now he has basically nuked my credit, took advantage of my fathers kindness, who has paid for lawyers and handed out trucks everytime he crashes one. The time we were seperated he refused to pay child support, went to get help with that and was told there was a 9 month back log of cases but they would get us to a judge as soon as they could, but to not expect anything for at least a year!!! Now that I am disabled I need his permission to draw half. That is a crock of shit! He should need my permission. I helped do his job and raised a family and took care of a home. when your a mommy u dont get to knock off at 5 and go have a beer with the girls. at 5 my work just gets harder! So to assume that everyone's situation is the same is just assinine! I haved worked just as hard and invested more money than he has. The state law where i live says that if one spouse uses their assets or money to better the other spouse to make a better income to support their family, then that person is entitled to restitution either in the form of alimony or % of the business that was started. However, with SSI its a total different story! I feel I should be entitled to 100% of whatever was paid in with OUR money. God knows if i sold my land he would be entitled to his share! So all situations are different good for you for getting off your ass and going to work, but dont judge everyones situatuion. we could assume that you have an ex that didnt work and just lived off you! but we dont. every situatuion is different.

sweety it doesnt efect him he plays he pays!!

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Thu, 05/24/2012 - 7:00pm.

i think its great when they dump you for a loser for no reason she should get it after haveing his kids taken care of him he go though chang of life and desides to leave give me a break some woman have good resasons and need it because there husband didnt want them to go to work.. i worked but i also took care of my 3 children i gave my life to my ex so shut up and you geta life!!

Correction. Meant to say "I

Submitted by Sara (not verified) on Sun, 05/27/2012 - 12:38am.

Correction. Meant to say "I would think she should have provided for herself, or maybe can collect from her (past) husband." - as opposed to future husband. I think second wives are ticked that their husband's pay child support. I get no alimony, and that is becoming very rare around here, unless someone has very young children, or it is very temporary.

Hell Yeah! tell it girl!

Submitted by amy shelton (not verified) on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:21pm.

Hell Yeah! tell it girl! some people just dont have a clue. like i said she probably had a man that made her ass go to work so he could stay home! and if they had kids he probably didnt take care of them either....her moma probably did on a sorry ass fixed income from a sorry half too! lol

How old could Alissa be?

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Tue, 05/22/2012 - 5:11pm.

I am appalled by your comments, Alissa, and have to ask if you have yet reached the ripe old age of 25?? You are responding to a woman who was married to a man for 30 years, only worked for 1.5 of those years and stayed at home to raise their family. And you don't think she deserves to get some of his social security, being that she supported his lifestyle with love and attention to the children, maintained HIS household? She was a WIFE, MOTHER and HOMEMAKER. How is she supposed to get that back, all those years, now at the age of 66... you're telling her to get a job and support herself? I don't know how ANY woman could fix her fingers to BEGIN to type a message like that. Alissa, you're an idiot. Anne, I would appeal and get every penny you can from his social security. You EARNED it.

There are exceptions...abuse,

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Tue, 05/22/2012 - 12:28am.

There are exceptions...abuse, affairs, and all that bad stuff...

ex husband's ss

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Thu, 04/19/2012 - 11:51pm.

My ex- husband died 2 years ago. We were married 22 years and have 1 son. We were divorced for 10 years when he passed away. He had remarried and they were married for 6 years. My question is can I draw his SS when I get 62 or will she. Her income is much more than his was but mine is not. In fact I am applying for dissability. Can I draw dissability(if I get approved) and his SS also. I am 50 years old. I remarried but I am now divorced.

Reply to Ex husbands S.S.

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Tue, 07/31/2012 - 2:55pm.

If u were married to him for 10 years,"IF" u are approved for Social Security,u can draw 100 % of your deceased husbands Social Security.When you are awarded Social Security Disability benefits,be sure and tell them you are wanting to draw your benefits from his Social Security that he paid in.If you don't get your disability,then you can draw his at age 62.(I think only half his amount)unless you are 66 years old.Then 100%.go to http://www.ssa.org

yes you can

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Tue, 07/31/2012 - 3:00pm.

You can draw his S.S. if you remarried,and are divorced from the man you married.Only if u divorce him.

You could have if you hadn't

Submitted by amy (not verified) on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:29pm.

You could have if you hadn't remarried. it doesnt matter if he did. But once you remarried that cut u from being able to draw off him. if your son is still a minor he can draw his ss until he is 18 years old or 21 if in school.

That's wrong. As long as she

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Fri, 08/10/2012 - 8:10pm.

That's wrong. As long as she is divorced or widowed from the second husband prior to drawing from her first husband's SS then she can still draw it.

Ex husband SSi Benefits

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Wed, 04/18/2012 - 2:48pm.

I am 70 years old and was married over 10 years. I have not remarried. When my ex passes away can I collect on his SSI and receive mine as well?d

ex husband's disability

Submitted by susan (not verified) on Thu, 03/22/2012 - 4:47pm.

I will be 62 soon,and was married 20 years and divorced. My ex husband is now collecting disability.He had a good job for almost 30 years before the disability,and I made less income,and was shocked at the low amount,i could draw off of his income at 62. In a SS pamphlet,in the disability handbook,it states that in some situations,a divorced spouse may qualify for benefits based on your earnings,if he or she was married at least 10 years,not currently married,and is at least 62. My question is,would the amount be different,if my ex is getting disability and why would this pamphlet,say(in some situations)? He is currently getting 2,000.00 a month for disability,and the amount I would receive a month is 597.00. at full retirement it is 830.00 Please advise.

widows benefits

Submitted by reese (not verified) on Fri, 03/02/2012 - 5:17pm.

My husband died 10 years ago. He was 50. We had been married since 1978, together for 12 years, and off and on the rest of the time. Neither one of us remarried and never divorced.I will be 60 in July. Can I collect widows ss?

you could have been

Submitted by amy (not verified) on Sat, 05/26/2012 - 12:34pm.

you could have been collecting since his death. My 31 year old brother passed away this past july 2, 2011. he has worked since he was 16, they had one daughter and was married for 9 years, she now collects almost 1800 a month for her and right at 1700 for their daughter. go apply now for you widows benefits! you might even have some backpay coming to you! not sure about the backpay, but you can definatley draw his SS

I do not believe that

Submitted by Guest (not verified) on Wed, 06/27/2012 - 4:26pm.

I do not believe that situation at all. First, in order to collect you will need to have been mattied 10+ years. The total family allottement is questionable.

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