Can I get 100% of my ex-husband's Social Security benefits if he dies while I'm receiving his pension?

Yes, you can potentially receive up to 100% of your ex-husband's Social Security benefit as a surviving divorced spouse. To qualify, you need to have been married at least 10 years (which you were), be at least 60 years old (which you are), and not be entitled to a higher benefit on your own record. But there's a catch - if your ex worked in a job that didn't pay into Social Security (sounds like he might have had a federal job with CSRS rather than FERS), then his SS benefits might be reduced by WEP, and yours might be affected by GPO (Government Pension Offset).

My mom went thru this exact thing with my dads pension!! When he died the pension company immediately stopped her payments and it took almost 6 months to get her widows benefits from Social Security. We had to borrow money from family just to pay her bills!!

WEP stands for Windfall Elimination Provision and GPO is Government Pension Offset. These rules affect people who receive pensions from jobs not covered by Social Security. If your ex-husband worked in a federal job under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS), his Social Security benefit might be reduced by WEP. And as his divorced spouse, your survivor benefits could be reduced by GPO. The GPO typically reduces your Social Security survivor benefits by two-thirds of your government pension amount. Regarding the pension: Yes, many survivor pensions do terminate upon death of the former employee. You should check the specific terms of his pension plan. Some federal pensions have survivor benefit provisions, but this depends on choices made at retirement. I would recommend contacting Social Security directly to get a personalized estimate of what your survivor benefits would be, taking GPO into account if applicable.

the pension stopping when he dies is probably true. most pensions dont continue for exes after death unless there was something specifc in your divorce decree. you should check your divorce papers.

I recently helped my aunt with a similar situation. She tried calling Social Security for THREE WEEKS and couldn't get through - just busy signals or being placed on hold for hours. She finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got her connected with an actual Social Security agent in under 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU She needed specific answers about her survivor benefits calculation and GPO reduction, and speaking with an actual agent was the only way to get accurate information for her situation. Much better than general advice online.

My situation was different but maybe helps? I got divorced after 12 years and when my ex died I got his full SS benefit even though I was already claiming my own SS. They automatically give you whichever amount is higher. But I didn't have any pension stuff to deal with.

To directly answer your original question: Yes, as a divorced spouse who was married for more than 10 years, you can potentially receive 100% of your ex-husband's Social Security benefit as a survivor benefit when he passes away. However, several factors come into play: 1. GPO: If you receive a government pension based on work not covered by Social Security (which sounds likely in your case), your survivor benefits would be reduced by 2/3 of that pension amount. 2. Your Age: If you claim survivor benefits before your Full Retirement Age (FRA), the benefit will be reduced. 3. Your Own Work Record: If your own Social Security benefit would be higher, you'd receive that instead. I strongly recommend setting up an appointment with SSA to get precise calculations based on your specific situation. The online calculators won't account for all these special circumstances.

DONT TRUST WHAT SSA TELLS YOU ON THE PHONE!!! I got THREE different answers from THREE different reps about my widow benefits!!! Get EVERYTHING in writing and talk to a supervisor if possible. The first rep told me I'd get full benefits and then when I applied they said I was getting way less because of some rule nobody mentioned before. FIGHT FOR YOUR BENEFITS!!!

Here's some additional information that might help you: 1. Regarding the pension: Federal pensions for ex-spouses typically end when the retiree dies unless your divorce decree included a survivor benefit clause. This is something you should verify by reviewing your divorce decree or contacting the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). 2. About Social Security survivor benefits: As others have mentioned, the GPO would reduce your survivor benefits by 2/3 of your government pension. However, since your pension will likely terminate upon your ex-husband's death, the GPO may not apply to you at that point (since you won't be receiving the pension anymore). 3. If your ex-husband was under CSRS, he likely had substantial quarters of coverage under Social Security from other employment to qualify for any Social Security benefit. Given your current income is only $14,000 annually, survivor benefits could be significant for your financial security. I strongly recommend setting up an in-person appointment at your local Social Security office where they can access all the relevant records.

I'm sorry to hear about your difficult situation. As someone who has navigated similar waters, I wanted to add a few practical tips that might help you prepare: 1. **Document everything now**: Start gathering all your divorce papers, pension statements, and any Social Security statements you have. You'll need these when you meet with SSA. 2. **Consider timing**: If your ex-husband is still alive, you might want to have a conversation about his Social Security earnings record and whether he has enough quarters of coverage. This could affect your survivor benefits. 3. **Emergency planning**: Given that your pension will likely stop immediately upon his death, consider setting up a small emergency fund if possible. Even a few hundred dollars can help cover immediate expenses while you wait for survivor benefits to begin. 4. **Look into local resources**: Many communities have senior centers or non-profit organizations that offer free assistance with Social Security questions. They might be able to help you navigate the system or even accompany you to appointments. The uncertainty is really stressful, but getting concrete numbers from SSA will help you plan better. Hang in there!

@Zara Ahmed, yes, there are several federal programs you might be eligible for with your low income! You should definitely look into SNAP (food assistance), LIHEAP (utility bill help), and potentially housing assistance programs. Also, once you turn 65, you'll qualify for Medicare which can help with healthcare costs. Your state might have additional programs for low-income seniors too. I'd recommend contacting your local Area Agency on Aging - they can do a full benefits screening and help you apply for everything you're eligible for. They're really helpful and it's all free. Given your situation, you probably qualify for more assistance than you realize. It's worth checking into these programs now so you know what's available when you need them.

I went through something very similar when my ex-husband passed away last year. I was receiving part of his federal pension (CSRS) and was so worried about what would happen. Here's what I learned that might help you: 1. **The pension did stop immediately** - just like others mentioned. But I had applied for survivor benefits about 6 months before he passed (you can apply up to 4 months early), which helped avoid the gap in income. 2. **GPO was a huge factor** - it reduced my survivor benefits by about $1,200/month (2/3 of my pension amount). But since the pension stopped when he died, GPO no longer applied to me going forward. 3. **I ended up getting about 85% of his full Social Security benefit** as a survivor - not quite 100% because I claimed it before my full retirement age, but it was still more than I was getting as a divorced spouse. The key thing that saved me was planning ahead. Start your Social Security application process now while you still have the pension income to cover expenses. Don't wait until after he passes - the paperwork takes time and you'll want to avoid any income gap. Also, definitely check if you have any survivor rights to his federal pension in your divorce decree. Some people do get a small survivor annuity even as ex-spouses if it was negotiated during the divorce.

I'm a benefits counselor and want to emphasize something crucial that @DeShawn Washington mentioned - you can absolutely apply for survivor benefits up to 4 months in advance! This is one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself financially. Here's what I'd recommend as your action plan: 1. **Apply now for survivor benefits** - Don't wait. Even though your ex-husband is still alive, SSA allows advance applications specifically to prevent the income gap you're worried about. 2. **Get a written estimate** - When you meet with SSA, ask for a written calculation of your survivor benefits both with and without GPO. Since your pension will likely end when he passes, GPO may not apply to your survivor benefits going forward. 3. **Review your divorce decree carefully** - Look for any language about survivor benefits from his federal pension. Sometimes these clauses are buried in the fine print. 4. **Start building that emergency fund now** - Even $25/month adds up and could be crucial during the transition period. The fact that you're planning ahead puts you in a much better position than many people in similar situations. Your 23-year marriage definitely qualifies you for survivor benefits, and at 62, you have options. Don't let the complexity of GPO and WEP discourage you from getting the help you deserve.

I'm so glad you found this thread helpful! One additional resource I'd recommend is creating a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov if you don't already have one. This will give you access to your earnings record and benefit estimates, and you can also check your ex-husband's work history if you have his SSN. The online tools can help you prepare for your in-person appointment and give you a better understanding of the numbers before you go in. Also, when you do meet with SSA, don't be afraid to ask them to walk through the calculations step by step - they should be able to show you exactly how GPO would affect your benefits while you're receiving the pension versus after it ends. Having those specific dollar amounts will make your financial planning so much easier. Best of luck with everything!