Can I collect from both my own Social Security and my ex-spouse's benefits, or just the higher amount?

You don't get both - you get the higher of the two. If your ex-spouse's benefit would give you more than your own work record, then you'd get that amount instead of your own benefit. But there's a strategy here: you could take your ex-spouse's benefit at your full retirement age and let your own benefit grow until 70 if your own would be higher by then with the delayed retirement credits. I struggled with this exact same issue last year. Spent WEEKS trying to get through to Social Security to get a straight answer. Kept getting disconnected or waiting for hours. Finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to a real person at SSA in under 20 minutes. They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU The agent explained everything clearly and helped me figure out which option was best in my situation. Worth every penny to save the frustration!

yes i went through this 2 yrs ago u just get the higher one not both sorry

Social Security rules for ex-spouse benefits can be confusing, but here's how it works: 1. You don't receive both benefits simultaneously. SSA will pay your own retirement benefit first, then supplement it if your ex-spouse's benefit would be higher. 2. To qualify for ex-spouse benefits: - Marriage lasted at least 10 years (you qualify with 23 years) - You must be unmarried currently - You must be at least 62 - Your ex must be entitled to benefits (doesn't need to be claiming them) 3. The maximum you can receive on your ex's record is 50% of his full retirement age benefit amount. 4. If you claim before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), both your own benefit and the ex-spouse benefit will be permanently reduced. 5. Importantly, if your ex hasn't filed yet but is eligible, you can still claim on his record if you've been divorced for at least 2 years. I would recommend scheduling an appointment with SSA to get a personalized analysis. They can calculate exact amounts based on both earnings records.

Whichever is higher. But be careful! My sister thought she'd get her ex's and did all the paperwork only to find out she made $237 too much in some random year in the 90s to qualify or something ridiculous like that. The whole system is designed to confuse people and deny benefits if you ask me.

just went thrugh this exact thing but m still working part time. Social security only give you the higher of the two benefits not both added together. I was so disappointed because I was counting on both!!! They should make this more clear on their website!!

I have a similar question aobut my situation. My husband passed away last year and I'm getting survivor benefits now (I'm 60). When I reach 62 next year, can I switch to my own SS if it's higher? Or once I start survivor benefits am I stuck with that forever? The whole system is SO CONFUSING!!!

Here's the technical explanation of what happens: SSA doesn't actually give you "whichever is higher" in the way most people think. What actually happens is you receive your own retirement benefit first, and then if your spousal benefit would be higher, you receive an additional amount to bring the total up to the higher benefit level. From SSA's perspective, you're receiving both benefits, but you're only getting the differential amount from the second benefit. That's why people say "you get the higher of the two" as a simplification, though it's not technically how the system calculates it. This is important because it affects how certain reductions and increases are applied. For example, if you're subject to the Government Pension Offset or Windfall Elimination Provision, understanding how the benefits are actually calculated becomes crucial. At your age (64), taking benefits now means accepting a permanent reduction of approximately 13.3% from your full retirement age amount. If maximizing monthly income is important, you might consider waiting until your full retirement age.

my friend told me if u call the SS office directly they'll tell u the exact amount you'll get on your record vs your ex. save u all the trouble of guessing

Just wanted to update that I ended up using Claimyr this afternoon after seeing so many people mention long hold times. It really did work! Got connected to a Social Security rep in about 15 minutes. The rep confirmed that in my case, my own benefit would be slightly higher than the ex-spouse benefit, so I'll be going with that when I reach my full retirement age next year. Such a relief to have a clear answer finally!

I'm in a very similar situation - divorced after 20+ years, planning to retire soon, and totally confused by all the Social Security rules! Reading through everyone's responses has been really helpful. One thing I'm still unclear on though - if I decide to wait until my full retirement age to claim, do I need to apply for both my own benefit AND the ex-spouse benefit separately? Or does Social Security automatically calculate which one is higher and give me that amount? I keep seeing conflicting information about whether you have to specifically request to be evaluated for ex-spouse benefits or if they do it automatically. Also, has anyone had experience with getting benefit estimates for both scenarios before making the decision? I'd love to know the actual dollar amounts before committing to a strategy.

I went through this exact situation about 3 years ago! You're right to be confused - the Social Security system is incredibly complex when it comes to divorced spouse benefits. Here's what I learned from my experience: You get the higher of the two benefits, not both combined. So if your ex-spouse benefit would be $1,200/month and your own would be $1,000/month, you'd get $1,200 total, not $2,200. A few key things that helped me navigate this: 1. Since you were married 23 years (way over the 10-year minimum), you definitely qualify for ex-spouse benefits 2. Your ex doesn't need to have filed yet - since you've been divorced over 2 years, his filing status doesn't matter 3. At 64, you'd be taking a reduced benefit either way, so consider waiting until your full retirement age if possible The SSA website IS confusing on this topic - I ended up having to visit a local office twice to get clear answers. They can run both calculations for you to show exactly what each benefit would be at different claiming ages. One strategy to consider: if your own benefit would be higher at 70 (with delayed retirement credits), you could potentially take the ex-spouse benefit at full retirement age and let your own benefit grow until 70. But this depends on your specific numbers. Good luck! The research is worth it to maximize your benefits.

This is such a helpful thread! I'm in a similar boat - divorced after 18 years, turning 62 next month, and completely overwhelmed by all the Social Security options. Reading everyone's experiences has been eye-opening. What I'm taking away from all your responses is that I really need to get the actual numbers before making any decisions. It sounds like the key steps are: 1. Get my own benefit estimate from my SSA account online 2. Call or visit SSA to get the ex-spouse benefit calculation 3. Compare the numbers at different claiming ages 4. Decide on the best strategy based on my financial needs The Claimyr service several people mentioned sounds like it might be worth trying to avoid the phone hold nightmare. Has anyone else used them recently? I'm curious if their service is still working well. Also, for those who visited local SSA offices - did you need to bring any specific documentation about your divorce, or do they already have access to that information in their system? Thanks to everyone for sharing your experiences. It's so much more helpful than trying to decipher the SSA website!

I'm going through this exact same situation right now! Just turned 63 and trying to figure out the best strategy. My ex and I were married for 15 years, divorced 3 years ago. What I've learned so far from talking to a Social Security rep (finally got through after multiple tries!) is that they'll automatically check both your own benefit and the ex-spouse benefit when you apply, and give you whichever is higher. But here's the key - you have to specifically mention that you want to be considered for divorced spouse benefits when you apply. They don't automatically check your ex's record unless you ask. The rep also told me something interesting: if you're planning to work part-time after claiming benefits before your full retirement age, be careful about the earnings test. If you earn over the annual limit ($22,320 for 2024), they'll reduce your benefits temporarily. This applies to both your own benefits and ex-spouse benefits. One more tip - if you're not sure about the timing, you can actually withdraw your application within 12 months of filing and pay back what you received. It's like a "do-over" if you realize you made the wrong choice. Might give you some peace of mind to know that option exists! Hope this helps! This whole process is so much more complicated than it should be.

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm 62 and considering early retirement, but I've been putting off dealing with the Social Security decision because it seemed so overwhelming. Reading everyone's experiences here has given me the confidence to actually start the process. A few questions based on what I've read: 1. For those who visited SSA offices in person - how far in advance did you need to schedule an appointment? I'm wondering if I should plan for this to take a few weeks or if I can get in sooner. 2. I keep seeing mentions of "full retirement age" - is this the same for everyone or does it depend on when you were born? I was born in 1961, so I'm trying to figure out what mine would be. 3. The strategy of taking one benefit first and potentially switching later sounds interesting, but I'm confused about the 2015 rule changes someone mentioned. Can anyone explain what changed and how it affects people in our situation? I really appreciate how helpful everyone has been in sharing their real experiences. It's made this whole topic feel much less intimidating. I think I'm going to try the Claimyr service that several people recommended - it sounds like it could save me a lot of frustration with phone hold times! Thanks to everyone for making this such an informative discussion. I'll definitely update once I get my own situation figured out.

As someone who just went through this process myself, I wanted to add a few practical tips that helped me navigate the system: 1. **Get your estimates first**: Before making any decisions, get your own benefit estimate from your my Social Security account online, and then call SSA to get your ex-spouse benefit calculation. Having actual numbers makes the decision much clearer. 2. **Timing matters more than you think**: Since you're 64, claiming now would permanently reduce your benefits by about 13.3%. If you can afford to wait until your full retirement age (which would be 66 and 8 months for you), you'll get significantly more per month for the rest of your life. 3. **The "file and suspend" strategies are mostly gone**: The 2015 rule changes eliminated most of the complex claiming strategies for married couples, but divorced spouse benefits still have some flexibility. You can potentially take one type of benefit and let the other grow, but the rules are specific. 4. **Don't forget about working in retirement**: If you plan to work part-time after claiming, be aware of the earnings test if you claim before full retirement age. You can earn up to $22,320 in 2024 without affecting your benefits. The key thing to remember is that this is a permanent decision that will affect your income for potentially 20-30 years. Taking time to get accurate calculations and understand your options is worth the effort. Good luck with your decision!

I'm in almost the exact same situation as you! Divorced after 20 years, ex made significantly more, and I'm 63 trying to figure out the best strategy. This thread has been incredibly helpful - I had no idea about some of these rules. One thing I learned from my research is that you might want to consider your health and family longevity when making this decision. If you're in good health and have family members who lived into their 80s or 90s, waiting until full retirement age (or even 70 for your own benefit if it's higher) could pay off significantly over your lifetime. But if you have health concerns or really need the income now, claiming earlier might make more sense. I've been using the SSA's online calculators to run different scenarios, but I think I'm going to follow the advice here and either use Claimyr or visit a local office to get the exact numbers. The peace of mind of knowing exactly what I'd receive under each scenario seems worth the time and effort. Thanks to everyone who's shared their experiences - this is exactly the kind of real-world information that's impossible to find on the official websites!

I've been lurking in this community for a while but had to create an account to respond to this thread! I'm 65 and just went through this exact decision process last month. What really helped me was creating a spreadsheet comparing the total lifetime benefits under different scenarios. I calculated what I'd receive if I claimed my own benefit at different ages (62, FRA, 70) versus the ex-spouse benefit, factoring in the reductions for early claiming. The break-even analysis was eye-opening! A few things I wish someone had told me earlier: - Your ex-spouse benefit is calculated on THEIR full retirement age benefit amount, not what they're actually receiving if they claimed early - If you have significant assets or other retirement income, consider the tax implications - Social Security benefits can be taxable depending on your total income - Don't forget about Medicare! You become eligible at 65 regardless of when you claim Social Security I ended up waiting until my FRA and taking my own benefit since it was slightly higher. The extra 2 years and 8 months of waiting added about $300/month to my benefit - that's $3,600 more per year for the rest of my life! One last tip: when you do apply, ask the rep to walk through ALL the calculations with you so you understand exactly how they arrived at your benefit amount. Knowledge is power with Social Security!

I'm new to this community but had to jump in because I'm dealing with this exact situation right now! Just turned 63 and have been putting off this decision for months because it felt so overwhelming. Reading through all these responses has been incredibly eye-opening. I had no idea about the rule that you have to specifically ask to be considered for ex-spouse benefits - I thought they automatically checked both. That could have been a costly mistake! A few things I'm taking away from everyone's advice: 1. Get actual dollar amounts for both scenarios before deciding 2. Consider the long-term impact of early claiming reductions (that 13.3% reduction over 20-30 years is significant!) 3. Factor in health, family longevity, and other income sources 4. Don't forget about the earnings test if planning to work part-time I'm definitely going to try either Claimyr or visit a local SSA office to get my exact calculations. The peace of mind of having real numbers seems worth whatever time or cost is involved. Thanks to everyone who shared their experiences - this thread has been more helpful than hours of trying to decipher the SSA website! I'll update once I get my situation sorted out.

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been absolutely invaluable! I'm 63, divorced after 19 years, and have been struggling with this decision for months. My ex made about 50% more than I did throughout our marriage, so I'm definitely interested in exploring the ex-spouse benefits. What I find most helpful from reading everyone's experiences is the emphasis on getting actual numbers rather than guessing. I've been using the online calculators but realize I need to get the official calculations from SSA for both my own benefit and the potential ex-spouse benefit. I'm particularly intrigued by the point someone made about the ex-spouse benefit being calculated on their full retirement age amount, not what they're actually collecting if they claimed early. My ex is 65 and took early retirement last year, so this could make a real difference in my calculations. The spreadsheet approach with break-even analysis that was mentioned sounds like exactly what I need. I tend to be a numbers person, so having it laid out visually would really help me understand the long-term implications of claiming now versus waiting. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed, real-world experiences. I'm going to follow the advice here and get proper calculations done before making any decisions. This community has made what felt like an impossible decision seem much more manageable!

I'm 61 and facing this same decision in a few years, so I've been following this thread closely. What strikes me most is how much clearer this becomes when you have the actual dollar amounts rather than trying to guess based on general rules. One thing I haven't seen mentioned yet is the impact of cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) over time. Since these are percentage increases, getting a higher base benefit amount by waiting could compound significantly over a 20-30 year retirement. A $200 difference per month might seem modest now, but with COLAs over decades, it could become substantial. I'm also curious about something - for those who've gotten their calculations from SSA, did they provide projections at different claiming ages for BOTH your own benefit and the ex-spouse benefit? It seems like understanding how both options change based on when you claim would be crucial for making the best decision. The tax angle someone mentioned is really important too. If you have other retirement income or work part-time, a higher Social Security benefit could push you into a higher tax bracket on the benefits themselves. Definitely something to factor into the overall analysis. Thanks to everyone for making this such an informative discussion. I'm definitely going to start getting my own calculations done now rather than waiting until I'm closer to retirement age. Better to have time to plan properly!

I'm 58 and will be facing this exact decision in a few years, so this thread has been incredibly valuable! Reading everyone's real experiences is so much more helpful than trying to navigate the SSA website alone. What really resonates with me is the emphasis on getting actual calculations rather than making assumptions. I've been putting off thinking about this seriously, but seeing how complex these decisions are - and how much money is potentially at stake over a 20-30 year retirement - I realize I need to start planning now. A couple of questions for those who've been through this process: 1. When you got your calculations from SSA, did they show you monthly amounts or annual totals? I'm wondering what format makes it easiest to compare options. 2. For those who used Claimyr - roughly what did it cost? I'm trying to weigh the convenience against just grinding through the regular SSA phone system. The point about this being a permanent decision affecting decades of income really hits home. I'd rather spend some time and effort now to get it right than regret rushing into the wrong choice later. Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences. This community support is amazing - I had no idea so many people were dealing with the same complex decisions!