Can I collect Social Security from ex-husband's record when he hasn't retired yet?

Unfortunately, you can't claim on your ex-husband's record until he actually files for his own benefits. That's just how the system works for current spouses AND ex-spouses. The only exception would be if he's at least 62 and you've been divorced for at least 2 years, which you have. In that case, you CAN file on his record even if he hasn't filed yet - this is called the "independently entitled divorced spouse" provision. Since you meet both conditions (divorced 16 years and he's over 62), you should be eligible to file on his record now. However, remember that at 62, you'll only get about 70% of what your spousal benefit would be at your full retirement age (which is 50% of his FRA amount).

ur wrong. she CAN file for ex-spouse benefits if divorced for 2+ years and both r over 62 even if he hasnt filed yet. look it up on ssa.gov

Have you run the numbers for your own record vs. the ex-spouse benefits? Even with the higher PIA, when you file at 62 you're looking at significant reductions. I was in a similar boat last year (though I'm the husband in the scenario) and was SHOCKED at how much the early filing reduced things. Something like 30% less than if I'd waited until my FRA!!! Make sure you're comparing actual benefit amounts after early filing reductions.

To clarify the rules precisely: 1. You can claim ex-spouse benefits as early as 62 IF you've been divorced at least 2 years AND your ex is at least 62, even if he hasn't filed yet. This is called the "independently entitled divorced spouse" rule. 2. However, your benefit would be reduced for early filing. At 62, you'd get approximately 32.5% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount) rather than the full 50% you'd get at your FRA. 3. Important: SSA will always pay your own retirement benefit first if it's higher than the divorced spouse benefit. They don't stack! Based on the numbers you shared, your FRA benefit would be $1,850, while 50% of his PIA would be about $1,700 ($3,400 ÷ 2). This means your own benefit is actually higher than what you'd get on his record at FRA. I suggest creating a my Social Security account online to see your exact projected benefit amounts at different ages before making any decisions.

I spent WEEKS trying to get someone at Social Security on the phone about my own ex-spouse situation. Kept getting disconnected or waiting forever. Finally found this service called Claimyr that got me through to a real person in under 20 minutes! Just went to claimyr.com, they called SSA for me and connected me when an agent was available. Saved me literal days of frustration. Here's a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent confirmed I could file on my ex's record since we'd been divorced over 2 years and he was over 62, even though he hadn't filed yet. But in my case, my own benefit was actually higher so it didn't make sense.

the system is RIGGED against divorced women! my ex made 3x what I did for 25 years while I raised our kids but I only get a TINY fraction of "his" benefits even though I EARNED them too by supporting his career!!! meanwhile he remarried a woman 20 years younger who will get survivor benefits for DECADES if he dies first. total scam!!!!

i think u should just wait til ur FRA (66+?) bcuz taking benefits early is ALWAYS a bad idea. my neighbor took SS at 62 and regrets it every month when she gets that smaller check!!!

Not sure about the rest but wanted to share that my mom was in almost the exact same situation last year! She started collecting on her ex-husband's record even though he hadn't filed yet. She had to specifically mention the 2-year divorce rule though because the first SSA person she talked to didn't seem to know about it. Good luck!!! 👍

Based on what you've shared, your own benefit at FRA ($1,850) is actually higher than what you'd get as an ex-spouse benefit (50% of $3,400 = $1,700). And remember that filing at 62 means you'd only get about 70% of either amount. This is a critical point many people miss: SSA doesn't give you both benefits added together. They give you the higher of the two. So in your case, you'd likely just get your own reduced retirement benefit if you file at 62. If you can afford to wait until your FRA or even age 70, your own benefit would grow substantially and almost certainly exceed anything you'd get on your ex's record.