Can Social Security help find ex-spouse SSN or birthdate for spousal benefits?

This is exactly why I tell everyone to keep ALL your important documents! The SSA has all this info but they make it nearly impossible to access your own benefits. When I applied for spousal benefits last year, I had to provide everything short of a DNA sample! I even had my ex's info and they still gave me the runaround for 3 months.

Yes, the SSA can help you with this! I went through something similar last year. What you need to do is file an official request for information. Go to your local SSA office in person (make an appointment first) and bring all the documentation you have - especially your marriage certificate and divorce decree for the second marriage. The representative you spoke with on the phone was incorrect - they absolutely can help you when you don't have your ex's information, but it has to be processed through a specific channel. Also, just to clarify - are you planning to claim on both ex-spouses? Remember you can only receive one spousal benefit (whichever is higher).

my wife had same problem last yr. SSA told her they needed her ex's info and she didn't have it. took 6 months to sort out!! good luck

I think people are confusing SSI and SSDI in some of these responses. OP is talking about retirement benefits based on an ex-spouse's record, which is different. It's RIB benefits not disability.

I just went through this entire process! The phone reps are often wrong. Here's what worked for me with my ex's info: 1. Fill out the official benefit application form (you can start online) 2. In the section asking for the ex-spouse's info, check the box that you don't have it 3. Provide as much info as you can (full name, last known address, etc.) 4. Upload your marriage certificate and divorce decree SSA will do an internal search. It might take longer, but they CAN and WILL find your ex's information in their system. They have everyone's SSN and birthdate already! Don't give up or let them tell you otherwise. The key is getting past the first-level phone people to someone who actually knows the policies.

This is a common issue with divorced spousal benefits. Here's what you need to know: 1. Yes, the SSA can find your ex-spouse's information internally, but they need enough identifiers to locate the correct person. You should provide: - Full name (including any known previous names) - Approximate age/year of birth (even if you don't know the exact date) - Last known city/state - Any other identifying information you have 2. It's important to understand that if you're applying for divorced spouse benefits at 64, you'll receive a reduced amount (about 91.7% of your full benefit amount) since you're claiming before your Full Retirement Age (FRA) of 66 and 6 months. 3. Remember that to qualify for divorced spouse benefits: - Your marriage lasted at least 10 years - You are unmarried currently - Your ex-spouse is entitled to benefits (or will be when they turn 62) - The benefit you'd receive on your ex's record is higher than your own I recommend completing form SSA-2 (Request for Earnings and Benefit Estimate Statement) along with your application and specifically note that you're requesting assistance locating your ex-spouse's information for benefit purposes.

After trying for WEEKS to reach someone at Social Security about my disability review, I finally used a service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) and got through to an agent in 20 minutes! They have a demo video here: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU I was so frustrated with the constant busy signals and disconnects. Might be worth trying for your ex-spouse benefits issue too since it seems complicated and you'll want to talk to an actual person who knows what they're doing, not just the frontline phone people.

my aunt tried to get her ex husband benefits and they made her go to court to get his info! but that was like 10 years ago so maybe rules changed

when i filed for ss they kept askin for stuff i already sent!! check ur mail careful cuz they send letters asking for same stuff over n over. took me 4 months to get approved

I went through a very similar situation about 18 months ago! The key is persistence and knowing the right forms to use. Here's what finally worked for me: 1. **Request Form SSA-7050** (Request for Social Security Earnings Information) - this is specifically designed for situations where you need to locate an ex-spouse's information for benefit purposes. 2. **Bring EVERYTHING** to your in-person appointment: marriage certificate, divorce decree, any old tax returns that might have his name, wedding photos with dates, anything that proves the marriage existed and when. 3. **Ask specifically for a "Claims Specialist"** - don't settle for the front desk person. Tell them you need help with a divorced spouse benefit claim where you're missing the ex-spouse's identifying information. The SSA absolutely CAN and WILL help you locate this information - it's literally part of their job! The phone representatives often don't know the full range of services available. When I finally got to the right person at my local office, they found my ex's information within 20 minutes using just his full name and our marriage/divorce dates. Don't let them tell you it's impossible. You have a legal right to these benefits if you qualify, and they have the tools to help make it happen. Good luck!

I'm dealing with a similar situation right now! I've been trying to get information about my ex-husband's benefits for months. What's really helped me is keeping detailed records of every phone call - date, time, who I spoke with, and what they told me. I've noticed that different representatives give completely different answers, so having that documentation helps when you need to escalate. One thing that worked for me was asking to speak with a supervisor immediately when they told me they couldn't help. The supervisor was much more knowledgeable and actually walked me through the process properly. Also, if you do end up going in person, try to schedule your appointment for mid-week rather than Monday or Friday - the offices tend to be less crowded and the staff has more time to help with complex cases. Have you tried contacting your local congressman's office? I know it sounds extreme, but they have special liaisons who can help cut through SSA red tape when you're getting the runaround. Sometimes that's what it takes to get proper service.

I'm going through something very similar right now! I've been married twice, both over 10 years, and I'm trying to figure out which ex-husband's benefits would be higher. Like you, I have all the info for one ex but not the other. What I've learned from reading through all these responses is that the SSA definitely has the capability to find your ex's information - you just need to get to the right person who knows how to do it. The phone representatives seem to give wildly different answers, which is so frustrating when you're trying to plan your retirement. I'm planning to make an in-person appointment at my local office next week and bring every document I have - marriage certificates, divorce decrees, old tax returns, even our wedding album to prove the timeline. I'm also going to specifically ask for a Claims Specialist and mention Form SSA-7050 that someone mentioned above. It's encouraging to see that others have successfully navigated this process, even if it took a few months. I hope you get this sorted out soon - we shouldn't have to jump through so many hoops to access benefits we've earned!

I worked for SSA for 15 years before retiring, and I can tell you that the representative you spoke with was misinformed. The SSA absolutely has the capability to locate ex-spouse information for benefit purposes - it's a routine part of processing divorced spouse claims. Here's what you need to do: Go to your local field office (not the 1-800 number) and request to speak with a Claims Specialist. Bring your marriage certificate and divorce decree for the second marriage. Tell them you're filing for divorced spouse benefits but need assistance locating your ex-spouse's SSN/birthdate in their system. The Claims Specialist can initiate what's called a "numident search" using the marriage/divorce records and your ex's full name. This is standard procedure - they do it all the time. The phone reps often don't know about these internal processes because they're primarily trained for simpler inquiries. Don't let anyone tell you they "can't" help with this. You have a legal right to these benefits if you qualify, and they have the tools and authority to locate the necessary information. If the first person says no, politely ask to speak with a supervisor or another Claims Specialist. The process typically takes 4-6 weeks once properly initiated, but it's definitely doable. Good luck!

I've been following this thread and wanted to add my experience from last year. I was in almost the exact same situation - missing my second ex-husband's SSN and birthdate for spousal benefits. The key breakthrough for me was going directly to my local SSA office and being very specific about what I needed. I said "I need to file for divorced spouse benefits and require assistance with a numident search to locate my ex-spouse's information." Using that exact terminology seemed to make all the difference - the Claims Specialist immediately knew what I was talking about and didn't give me any pushback. I brought my marriage certificate, divorce decree, and even an old insurance document that had his name on it. The whole process took about 5 weeks from when I filed to when they confirmed they found his record in their system. My benefits started the following month. Don't give up! The SSA has this information and the tools to find it - you just need to get to someone who knows the proper procedures. The former SSA employee's advice above is spot-on. Good luck with your claim!

I'm so glad I found this thread! I'm in a very similar situation - I have my first ex-husband's information but am missing everything for my second ex. I've been dreading dealing with the SSA because I've heard so many horror stories, but reading everyone's experiences here gives me hope. The advice about using the specific term "numident search" and asking for a Claims Specialist rather than just any representative seems like it could save me months of frustration. I had no idea there were specific forms like SSA-7050 designed for exactly this situation. I'm planning to gather all my documentation this week - marriage certificate, divorce decree, and anything else I can find with his name on it - and make an appointment at my local office. It sounds like going in person is definitely the way to go rather than trying to handle this over the phone. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the former SSA employee who explained the internal processes. This thread has been more helpful than hours of phone calls with SSA!

I just want to echo what everyone else has said about going in person and asking specifically for a Claims Specialist. I went through this exact process about 8 months ago and the difference between phone support and in-person help was night and day. A few additional tips that helped me: - Call ahead to make an appointment rather than just walking in - you'll get more dedicated time with a specialist - If the first Claims Specialist seems unsure about the numident search process, politely ask if there's someone else who handles divorced spouse benefit cases specifically - Bring multiple copies of everything - they kept one set and I needed the originals for my records The whole thing took about 6 weeks from start to finish once I got to the right person, and now I'm receiving benefits based on my ex's higher earnings record. It's definitely worth the effort, especially since you mentioned your own work history was mostly part-time. Don't let the initial phone runaround discourage you - this is absolutely something they can and should help you with!

I'm a newcomer to this community but wanted to share my recent experience since it sounds so similar to yours! I just went through this exact process last month and successfully got my divorced spouse benefits started. The key things that worked for me: 1. Made an in-person appointment at my local SSA office (called ahead - don't just walk in) 2. Asked specifically for a "Claims Specialist" and mentioned I needed help with a "numident search" for divorced spouse benefits 3. Brought marriage certificate, divorce decree, and any old documents with his name (even found an old insurance card from 15 years ago!) The Claims Specialist was able to locate my ex-husband's information in about 10 minutes using just his full name and our marriage dates. She explained that the phone representatives often don't know about these internal search capabilities - it's a different system than what they have access to. Total timeline was about 4 weeks from application to first benefit payment. The specialist warned me it might take 6-8 weeks, so I was pleasantly surprised. Don't give up on the phone runaround! The in-person route with the right terminology really does work. Good luck with your claim!

Welcome to the community! I just went through a very similar situation earlier this year and wanted to share what finally worked for me. Like you, I was getting completely different answers from phone representatives - some said they couldn't help at all, others said I needed to hire a private investigator to find my ex's information, which seemed ridiculous. What ultimately solved it was making an in-person appointment and asking specifically for a "Claims Specialist" who handles divorced spouse benefits. I used the exact phrase "I need assistance with a numident search to locate my ex-spouse's SSN and birthdate for divorced spouse benefit purposes." The specialist immediately knew what I was talking about and was able to find my ex's information using just his full name, approximate age, and our marriage/divorce dates. The whole process took about 5 weeks once I got to the right person. I brought my marriage certificate, divorce decree, and even found some old tax documents that had his name listed. The specialist explained that the phone system representatives don't have access to the same internal search tools that the field office staff do. Don't let the phone runaround discourage you - you absolutely have a right to these benefits, and the SSA has the tools to help you access them. The key is just getting to someone who knows how to use those tools properly. Good luck with your claim!

I'm new to this community but have been reading through this entire thread because I'm facing a nearly identical situation! I'm 63 and trying to claim divorced spouse benefits from my ex-husband, but like you, I don't have his SSN or exact birthdate - just his name and approximate age. After reading all these responses, I'm amazed at how much more helpful this community has been than the actual SSA phone system. The advice about going in-person, asking specifically for a "Claims Specialist," and using the term "numident search" seems to be the key. I had no idea there were internal search tools that phone representatives don't have access to! I'm going to follow the approach that so many people here have had success with: make an appointment at my local office, bring all my documentation (marriage certificate, divorce decree, and any old papers with his name), and use the specific terminology about needing assistance with a numident search for divorced spouse benefit purposes. Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, especially the former SSA employee who explained the internal processes. It's given me so much more confidence that this is actually solvable, even though the phone representatives made it sound impossible. I'll report back on how my appointment goes!

I'm new to this community and just wanted to say thank you all for sharing such detailed and helpful experiences! I'm 65 and have been trying to navigate the divorced spouse benefits process for my ex-husband from 20 years ago. Like many of you, I was getting completely contradictory information from phone representatives - some saying it was impossible without his SSN, others telling me to contact him directly (which isn't an option after two decades of no contact). Reading through this thread has been incredibly enlightening, especially learning about the "numident search" process and the importance of asking specifically for a Claims Specialist rather than just any representative. The former SSA employee's explanation of the internal systems really opened my eyes to why phone support has been so unhelpful compared to the success stories from in-person visits. I'm planning to make an appointment at my local office next week, armed with all the terminology and documentation strategies you've all shared. It's amazing how this community has provided more actionable guidance in one thread than months of official SSA interactions. I'll definitely report back on how the appointment goes - hopefully I can add another success story to this helpful collection!