Can I receive Social Security survivor benefits as an ex-spouse while on SSDI?

u shud be fine, my aunt got her ex husbands ss when he died and they were only married like 12 yrs i think. not sure bout the ssdi part tho

Yes, you can definitely qualify for survivor benefits as an ex-spouse if: 1. Your marriage lasted at least 10 years (yours was 22, so you're covered) 2. You haven't remarried before age 60 (you mentioned you haven't remarried) The fact that you're on SSDI actually makes this interesting. If your ex-husband passes away, you could potentially receive the higher of either your current SSDI benefit OR up to 100% of what your ex-husband would have received. You won't get both - SSA will pay whichever benefit amount is higher. Being on SSDI during the marriage doesn't affect your eligibility for survivor benefits at all. The key factors are the length of marriage and your marital status when applying for survivor benefits.

The SSA treats ex-spouses TERRIBLY when it comes to death benefits!! My sister went through this last year and it was a NIGHTMARE trying to get what she deserved. They kept saying she needed more documentation and proof of marriage even though they already had everything!! The rules are supposed to be as simple as what the other commenter said but ACTUALLY GETTING THE MONEY is a completely different story!!! Be prepared to FIGHT for what you're entitled to!!

my mom went thru something kinda like this. she had to wait until her ex would have reached full retirement age to get the max benefit. i think its different for survivor vs retirement tho. good luck!

To clarify a few points about ex-spouse survivor benefits that might help with your planning: 1. For disability beneficiaries: When your ex passes away, the SSA will automatically calculate whether your current SSDI benefit or your potential survivor benefit is higher. You'll receive the higher amount (not both). 2. Regarding your benefit classification: If your survivor benefit is higher, you'll technically be converted to survivor status in the SSA system, though your payment method won't change. 3. Notification process: The SSA won't automatically know if your ex-spouse passes away, so you would need to notify them. Bring your ex's death certificate, your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and your identification. 4. Early survivor benefits: Unlike retirement benefits, survivor benefits can be claimed as early as age 60 (or 50 if disabled) with some reduction. If your current SSDI is around $1,750 monthly, for example, but your ex-husband's benefit would be $2,500, you could potentially receive that higher amount after his passing.

I went through this exact scenario last year when my ex passed away. We'd been divorced for 15 years but married for 17. I was already on SSDI and was really struggling to get proper information from SSA. I spent WEEKS trying to get through on the phone with wait times of 3+ hours only to get disconnected. I finally found Claimyr (claimyr.com) which got me connected to an actual SSA agent in minutes instead of hours. They have a video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU showing how it works. It saved me so much frustration, and the agent confirmed I was eligible for my ex's higher benefit amount and helped me start the application process right away. I'm now receiving about $650 more per month than my old SSDI payment.

I needed his death certificate, our marriage certificate, divorce decree, and my ID. They also wanted to see my SSDI award letter but they actually had that in their system already. The SSA agent told me most people don't realize they qualify for ex-spouse benefits or don't apply because reaching someone to help is so difficult. Once I got through using that service, the actual application process wasn't too complicated, but I never would have gotten there sitting on hold for days!

not to be morbid but how would you even know if your ex died? my parents are divorced and dont speak at all. would ssa notify her if something happened to him?

One additional point that might be relevant to your situation: If you're receiving SSDI now and transition to survivor benefits after your ex passes away, you would still have Medicare coverage just as you do now. So your healthcare situation wouldn't change - only the amount and classification of your monthly benefit could potentially increase. Also worth noting that if you did remarry after age 60, you could still qualify for survivor benefits from your ex. But since you're currently 58 and don't plan to remarry, that's likely not an immediate concern for you.

my neighbor got her exs ss when he died but she had to wait till she was 60 even tho they were married for like 30 years... the whole thing is confusing

This is such valuable information for anyone in a similar situation! I wanted to add that it's also worth keeping copies of all your important documents (marriage certificate, divorce decree, etc.) in a safe place where you can easily access them if needed. One thing I learned from helping my mom navigate Social Security issues is that having everything organized beforehand makes the process much smoother when you're already dealing with the stress of a loss. You might also want to consider reaching out to your local Social Security office to get familiar with their procedures now, rather than waiting until you actually need to file a claim. It sounds like you have a good understanding of your situation now thanks to all the helpful responses here. The fact that your marriage lasted 22 years definitely works in your favor, and being on SSDI shouldn't prevent you from receiving the higher benefit if your ex-husband's amount exceeds yours.