Can I claim Social Security benefits from multiple ex-spouses? 14-year and 6-year marriages

You can definitely claim on your first ex-spouse's record since that marriage lasted over 10 years, which is the minimum requirement for divorced spouse benefits. The second marriage doesn't qualify because it was less than 10 years. When you file, you should qualify for either your own benefit or 50% of your first ex's full retirement benefit (whichever is higher). Just make sure you're unmarried when you file for the ex-spouse benefit. I went through something similar and found the SSA website page on divorced spouse benefits really helpful.

my mom tried to get benefits from both her exes and they told her no way, she could only pick the highest one. the 2nd marriage proly doesnt count anyway since it was less then 10 yrs

To clarify some misinformation here: For divorced spouse benefits, you need: 1. Marriage lasting at least 10 years 2. You must be unmarried currently 3. You must be at least 62 years old 4. Your ex must be entitled to benefits (though they don't need to be claiming yet) You can ONLY claim from your first marriage since it meets the 10-year duration requirement. The second marriage is irrelevant for benefit purposes. You don't need your ex's permission or cooperation - SSA handles everything, and your ex won't even be notified. When you apply, you'll be eligible for the higher of your own benefit or up to 50% of your ex's full retirement benefit (if you wait until your own FRA to claim).

I GOT ROYALLY CONFUSED BY THIS TOO!! Spent 4 days trying to get a straight answer from Social Security about my ex-husband's benefits. Called 47 times and kept getting disconnected. FINALLY got through and they told me because we were married 12 years I could claim on his record but NOT until I turned 62. So frustrating!!

Social Security specialist here. Just to add some nuance: if your first ex passes away before you claim benefits, you could potentially claim survivor benefits based on their record (since you were married 10+ years). This would allow you to receive up to 100% of their benefit amount rather than the 50% for divorced spouse benefits. Also, it's worth noting that if you're still working and earning a good income, your own benefit might actually be higher than what you'd get from the ex-spouse benefit. I always recommend getting a benefit estimate from SSA for all your options before making any decisions.

Thought I'd share my experience - I was married for 12 years, divorced, then remarried for 3 years and divorced again. I'm collecting on my first ex's record now (he made way more money than me) and getting about $1,450/month. I didn't even know I could do this until my neighbor told me! SSA never volunteered this info when I initially applied just based on my own work record. Had to specifically ask about ex-spouse benefits.

My friend at work said something about a "restricted application" if you were born before 1954? does that matter for divorced benefits?

I've been through this exact process! Just FYI - when you do apply, make sure to specifically tell them you want to file for divorced spouse benefits. I originally just applied for retirement and the claims specialist never mentioned I could get more by claiming on my ex's record (we were married 11 years). Had to go back and refile 6 months later when I found out, and they only gave me 6 months of retroactive payments even though I was eligible all along. So frustrating!

Just wanted to add another perspective as someone who's helped family members navigate this - definitely get all your paperwork together early! Beyond the marriage/divorce certificates, it's also helpful to have your ex's Social Security number if you have it (from old tax returns, etc.). While SSA can usually find records without it, having the SSN can speed up the process significantly. Also, if you're still several years away from retirement, consider that your own benefit might grow substantially if you continue working. I've seen cases where people assumed the ex-spouse benefit would be higher, but their own continued earnings made their personal benefit the better choice by the time they actually retired. The my Social Security account online is really useful for tracking your projected benefits over time. One more thing - if you're planning to claim at 62 (the earliest age for divorced spouse benefits), remember that you'll face the early retirement reduction, so you won't get the full 50% of your ex's benefit. Waiting until your full retirement age gets you the unreduced amount.

I'm in a similar boat with multiple divorces! One thing I learned from my experience is that you should also consider timing strategically if you're still working. Since you mentioned you're not planning to remarry, you have the flexibility to optimize when you claim. If you're earning good money now, it might make sense to delay claiming until your full retirement age (or even later) to avoid the earnings test and get the maximum benefit amount. Also, keep in mind that if you do decide to remarry after age 60, it won't affect your ability to claim on your first ex's record. I wish I had known all these nuances earlier - would have saved me a lot of stress! The SSA representatives are hit or miss with knowledge, so definitely do your homework beforehand.