Applying for Social Security spousal benefits with prior marriage - potential problems?

Your previous marriage won't affect your ability to claim spousal benefits on your current husband's record at all. Since you've been married to your current husband for over 30 years and divorced from your ex for the same amount of time, SSA won't even be concerned about your previous marriage. The only time a previous marriage matters is if you were trying to claim ex-spousal benefits from that previous husband, which would require the marriage to have lasted at least 10 years (yours was only 7, so you wouldn't qualify anyway). Just bring your current marriage certificate when you apply, and be prepared to answer basic questions about your marriage history. That's it!

I went thru this last yr and they askd for BOTH marriage certificate AND divorce papers even tho i was divorced 25+ yrs! Took FOREVER to find the divorce decree in my basement storage. So def have both ready!!

Actually, there's some misinformation here. While your prior marriage won't prevent you from claiming on your current husband's record, SSA does typically request documentation of all marriages and divorces when processing spousal benefits applications. Bring both your current marriage certificate AND divorce decree from your previous marriage. This is standard procedure for the SSA to verify your marital history and eligibility. They need to confirm all marriages ended legally before subsequent ones began. Also, check if claiming on your own work record might be more beneficial than spousal benefits. Many people don't realize they might get more from their own earnings record than the 50% spousal benefit.

You can get a certified copy of your divorce decree from the county clerk's office where your divorce was finalized. Usually costs $10-20 and takes a few days. Some counties even offer online ordering now. One more thing - your previous marriage would only matter if you were trying to claim on your ex's record (which requires 10+ years of marriage). For your current husband's record, SSA just needs to verify your current marriage is valid and that any previous marriages were properly terminated. Also, don't wait until your FRA to apply! You should apply 3-4 months before you want benefits to begin. The process takes time, and it's better to get in the queue early.

I experienced the WORST time trying to get through to SSA when applying for my spousal benefits!!! Called for WEEKS and either got disconnected or was on hold for HOURS only to get disconnected. Finally used this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an agent in less than 5 minutes!!! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU Seriously saved my sanity during the application process. Their system keeps your place in line so you don't have to stay on hold forever.

My situation was similar to yours but I had two prior marriages! Talk about paperwork nightmare lol. But honestly the process wasn't that bad. The SSA just wants to make sure everything is documented correctly. One tip: When you go to your appointment (if doing it in person), bring photocopies of EVERYTHING along with the originals. They'll often just take the copies and hand back your originals on the spot. And I second what someone else said - definitely apply 3-4 months before you want benefits to start. My application took almost 3 months to process completely.

OMG the SSA is soooo incompetent sometimes!! They lost my marriage certificate TWICE during my application process! And then had the nerve to send me a letter saying I needed to provide it AGAIN. I was FURIOUS!! 😡😡 Make sure you keep copies of EVERYTHING you submit and get receipts!!! Don't trust them to keep track of your documents!!

Just wanted to add something important - make sure you're actually eligible for spousal benefits when you apply. If your husband hasn't filed for his own benefits yet, you can't claim spousal benefits on his record (unless he's doing a restricted application, which is only available to people born before 1954). Also, if you're taking spousal benefits before your FRA (Full Retirement Age), they'll be permanently reduced. At FRA, spousal benefits are 50% of your husband's PIA (Primary Insurance Amount).

Great question! I went through a similar situation last year. Your previous marriage shouldn't create any major roadblocks, but I'd recommend gathering all your documentation now to avoid delays. Here's what I needed: - Current marriage certificate (certified copy) - Divorce decree from previous marriage - Birth certificate - Social Security cards for both you and your husband The SSA representative told me they need the divorce decree to verify your previous marriage was legally terminated before your current one began. It's just standard procedure for anyone with prior marriages. One thing that helped me - I called ahead and asked exactly which documents to bring. This saved me a second trip. Also, some local SSA offices are much less busy than others, so it might be worth calling a few locations to see which has the shortest wait times. Since you're planning ahead, you're already in great shape! Most complications happen when people wait until the last minute and can't find their paperwork.