Can I collect my ex-husband's Social Security at 62 while on SSDI? Will it affect my Medicare?

Hi there! The divorce decree itself doesn't actually determine your Social Security eligibility - that's entirely determined by federal law. The good news is that you CAN potentially collect ex-spouse benefits if: - You were married at least 10 years (you qualify with 14) - You are unmarried (you qualify) - You are at least 62 (you're about to qualify) However, here's the important part: Since you're on SSDI, you'll never receive BOTH full disability AND ex-spouse benefits. Social Security will pay whichever is HIGHER. This is called the "dual entitlement rule." If your ex's work record would give you more than your current SSDI, you'd get your SSDI amount plus the difference. And don't worry about Medicare - claiming ex-spouse benefits won't affect your Medicare eligibility at all!

one thing to kno is that ur ex doesn't hafta be retired for u to claim on his record. he just has to be 'eligible' for benefits (meaning old enough), but doesn't have to be taking them yet. I went thru similar situation last yr but my ex was younger than me so I had to wait.

To clarify some points here: As a divorced spouse, you can claim benefits on your ex's record if he is eligible for benefits (which at 63, he is), even if he hasn't filed yet, as long as you've been divorced for at least 2 years. However, since you're already receiving SSDI, the calculation gets more complex. At age 62, you won't actually transition from SSDI to retirement benefits - that happens automatically at your Full Retirement Age (FRA), which is 67 for people born after 1960. If your ex's work record would provide higher benefits than your current SSDI, you could receive an additional amount, but you wouldn't get both fully. SSA will calculate this as your disability benefit plus the difference (if any) between that amount and what you'd get as an ex-spouse. Importantly, divorced spousal benefits at age 62 are reduced to about 32.5% of your ex's full benefit amount because you're claiming early. This might mean it's not actually higher than your current SSDI.

Ok but wait - I'm really confused now. I thought if you're on disability, you CAN'T get spousal benefits at the same time?? My cousin tried to do this and they denied her completely. She had to choose one or the other. Are you SURE about this? The whole system is so complicated!!! 😫

just to add my experience - I was on SSDI for 9 years and when I turned 62 last year I checked about my ex husband's SS (we were married 22 years). turns out his benefit was way higher so I DO get more money now. about $345 more a month which really helps. my medicare didn't change at all.

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but PLEASE be careful here! When I called SSA about a similar situation, I was on hold for FOUR HOURS only to be disconnected twice. Then when I finally got through, the rep gave me completely wrong information that another rep contradicted the next day. The whole system is a disaster and you can't trust what they tell you over the phone. I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through quickly. They have a system that holds your place in line and calls you when an agent is available. Saved me hours of frustration and I finally got consistent answers. They have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Worth it for peace of mind when dealing with something this important.

DOESNT MATTER WHAT UR DIVORCE DECREE SAYS!! The govt doesn't care about that part of ur divorce agreement. I found that out the hard way when my ex tried to block me from getting benefits. But SSA told him to pound sand because the rules are the rules. As long as u were married 10+ years ur good.

One important thing to add: When you reach your Full Retirement Age (67), your SSDI will automatically convert to regular Social Security retirement benefits at the same amount. At that point, you should definitely contact SSA about ex-spousal benefits if you haven't already claimed them. At FRA, you'd be eligible for 50% of your ex's full benefit amount (not reduced for early claiming), which might be more advantageous than at age 62 when you'd only get 32.5%. Regarding Medicare - your eligibility won't change at all. Once you have Medicare through SSDI, you keep it regardless of which type of Social Security benefits you receive going forward.

btw if u do call social security come prepared!!! have ALL ur paperwork ready - they asked me for my marriage certificate AND divorce decree even tho they should have that info already on file. also have ur ex's SSN if possible. and be ready to wait foreverrrrr on hold.

Just a quick update - I used Claimyr again yesterday to reach SSA about a different issue and got through in about 30 minutes instead of the 3+ hours I was expecting. The rep confirmed that you don't absolutely need your ex's SSN to start the process, though it can speed things up. They can look him up by name, DOB, and last known address if needed.

To summarize your options: 1. You can apply for ex-spousal benefits at 62, but you'll only get about 32.5% of his full benefit amount, and only the difference between that and your current SSDI if it's higher. 2. You could wait until your Full Retirement Age (67) when you'd be eligible for 50% of his full benefit amount, potentially resulting in a higher payment. 3. Your Medicare will not be affected either way. The best approach depends on your financial needs now versus potentially getting more later. If you need additional income immediately, applying at 62 makes sense. If you can wait, doing so might be financially advantageous in the long run. When you do apply, be prepared with your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and as much information about your ex as possible (even without his SSN).

One thing I'd suggest is to also ask SSA about getting an estimate of what your ex-spouse benefits would be at different ages. They can run the numbers for you so you can make an informed decision about timing. Also, since you mentioned having COPD and thyroid cancer history, don't forget that any additional income might affect other benefits you receive (like food stamps or Medicaid if you have those) - though it sounds like you're primarily concerned about Medicare which won't be impacted. The peace of mind of knowing your exact numbers will be worth the phone call hassle!

I just went through this exact situation last year! I was on SSDI for 6 years and turned 62 in December. Like you, I was terrified of messing up my existing benefits. Here's what I learned: The key thing to understand is that SSA will automatically calculate which option gives you more money - your current SSDI or the ex-spousal benefit. You literally cannot lose money by applying. In my case, my ex's record would have given me about $50 more per month, so now I get my original SSDI amount plus that extra $50. The application process was actually pretty straightforward once I got through to someone. I didn't need my ex's SSN - just his full name, birth date, and approximate address from when we were married. They found him in their system easily. One tip: when you call, ask them to run a "benefit estimate" for both claiming at 62 and waiting until your FRA. That way you can see the exact dollar difference and make the best decision for your situation. With your medical expenses, even an extra $100-200 per month could make a real difference in your quality of life. Your Medicare is completely safe no matter what you decide - that was my biggest worry too and it was totally unfounded!

I'm also navigating this system for the first time and feeling pretty overwhelmed by all the rules and options! Reading through everyone's experiences here has been incredibly helpful. I'm curious - for those of you who have successfully applied for ex-spousal benefits while on SSDI, how long did it take for the additional amount to show up in your payments? And did you have to submit any additional paperwork after the initial application, or was it pretty much a one-and-done process once approved? I'm trying to get a realistic timeline in my head for what to expect if I decide to move forward with this.