I’m 62, divorced and struggling to make ends meet. I put my career on hold and raised our kids while my ex made a $200,000+ salary. Can I claim his Social Security?

Applying for your ex’s Social Security benefit

If you’re divorced, you may be eligible to receive Social Security benefits based on your ex’s work record. You do, however, need to meet certain criteria. For example, you must be at least 62 years old and unmarried when you become eligible for Social Security. Also, you’re only eligible if you and your ex were married for at least 10 years and divorced at least two.

You can claim Social Security based on your ex’s work record even if your ex is remarried or hasn’t yet retired. If the benefits you’re set to collect based on your own earnings record wind up totalling more than you’d collect on your ex’s record, the SSA will make you collect on your own.

If you start collecting Social Security once you reach your full retirement age (FRA), you’re entitled to half of your ex’s benefits. However, you won’t receive increased benefits if you wait past your FRA before you start collecting. If you collect the benefit before you reach your FRA — regardless of whether you’re collecting on your ex’s earnings record or your own — your benefit will be permanently reduced.

To apply, you’ll need proof of your marriage and divorce, as well as your ex’s Social Security number. If you don’t have your ex’s Social Security number — and if you’re not comfortable asking for it — you could also provide the SSA with your former spouse’s name, date, place of birth and parents’ names. From there you can fill out an application online or visit your local SSA office to request an estimate of your potential benefit.

Retire richer: The secret to building wealth faster

Most people miss out on key opportunities to grow their wealth. Partnering with the right financial advisor can help you secure a brighter future. Learn how to make your money work harder for you today.

Discover the secret

What your ex doesn't know won't hurt them

For those like Olivia who don’t want their ex to find out what they’re up to, there’s good news: your ex never needs to know. If you collect Social Security based on your ex’s earnings record, it won’t reduce their benefit at all, nor will the SSA notify them that you’ve made a claim on their earnings record.

For Olivia, it’s well worth inquiring with the SSA since she checks all the boxes: she’s 62, was married for more than 10 years and hasn’t remarried since her divorce several years ago. If, however, Olivia decides to remarry at some point in the future, that could impact her benefit.

If she remarries, Olivia would be wise to report the marriage to the SSA; her Supplemental Security Income (SSI) payments could change (or even stop) depending on her new spouse’s income.