Can both ex-wives receive the same deceased ex-husband's full Social Security benefits?

Yes, this is actually possible! Both ex-spouses can receive survivor benefits based on the same worker's record if each marriage lasted at least 10 years. This isn't a loophole - it's how the survivor benefit system is designed. Each eligible ex-spouse can receive up to 100% of the deceased worker's benefit if they claim at their own full retirement age. There's no reduction or splitting of benefits between multiple eligible ex-spouses. The SSA pays each qualified person their full entitled amount.

Wait i'm confused about this... are u sure both exes get 100%??? I thought survivor benefits were like only for current spouses or maybe 1 ex-spouse. How can the system afford to pay everyone the full amount? Doesn't seem right.

My uncle was in this EXACT situation!!! He passed away 2 years ago and both his exes get his SS checks now. My mom (his sister) was shocked when she found out. The whole family thought it was some kind of mistake but nope - totally legit according to SS rules. Neither ex even knows about the other one getting benefits lol

This is correct information. I'm a retired financial planner who specialized in Social Security strategies. Each eligible ex-spouse can receive full survivor benefits without affecting the other. The 10-year marriage duration requirement is key. Also, if either ex-spouse remarried before age 60, they would lose eligibility (unless that marriage also ended). If they remarried after 60, they maintain eligibility for the ex-spouse survivor benefit. If the deceased had been married at death, his current widow AND both ex-wives could potentially ALL receive full survivor benefits. This is one area where Social Security doesn't reduce benefits proportionally among multiple claimants.

SSA doesn't automatically notify eligible ex-spouses about survivor benefits when someone dies. Each ex-spouse needs to apply on their own. They should contact Social Security directly and be prepared with marriage/divorce documents proving the 10+ year marriage duration. The sooner they apply after the death, the better, as benefits are only retroactive for up to 6 months.

I had to contact SSA last month after my ex passed away (we were married 15 years) and it was IMPOSSIBLE to get through on the phone. Spent 4 days trying, waiting on hold for hours each time before getting disconnected. Finally I found this service called Claimyr (claimyr.com) that got me connected to an actual SSA agent in 20 minutes! They have a video showing how it works: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU - totally worth it instead of wasting days trying to get through. The agent confirmed I was eligible for survivor benefits even though we'd been divorced for 12 years.

I worked for SSA for 32 years before retiring. This multiple ex-spouse scenario comes up fairly often. THE KEY THING TO REMEMBER is that all eligible parties receive the FULL benefit amount they're entitled to - no splitting or sharing. But each ex-spouse needs to APPLY for these benefits. We don't have a system that automatically notifies ex-spouses when a former spouse dies. Also important: if the deceased worker had dependent children under 16 or disabled, they may qualify for benefits too, which is separate from any spousal benefits.

This thread has been so educational! I've been wondering about a similar situation with my parents. My mother was my father's third wife (married 18 years before divorcing). He had two previous marriages of 12+ years each. He's 72 now with health issues, and I've been trying to understand what benefits my mother might be eligible for if something happens to him. Sounds like she would qualify for full survivor benefits despite the divorces and the existence of other ex-wives. The Social Security system is much more complex than most people realize!

This is fascinating! I had no idea that Social Security survivor benefits worked this way. I'm a recent widow myself (my husband passed 8 months ago) and I've been receiving his full survivor benefit. But reading this thread makes me wonder - he was married once before for about 14 years before we met. Does this mean his ex-wife could also be collecting survivor benefits on his record? We never kept in touch after the divorce, so I have no idea if she even knows he passed away. It's strange to think that Social Security might be paying out benefits to both of us without either of us knowing about the other. The system really is more generous than I expected, but also seems like it could lead to some awkward situations if people found out about each other!

Wow, this whole discussion has blown my mind! I'm 45 and going through a divorce right now after 16 years of marriage. My husband has always been pretty secretive about his finances and Social Security stuff, but now I'm realizing I need to understand these benefits better for my own future planning. Reading about all these ex-wives getting full survivor benefits makes me feel a bit better about my financial security down the road - I had no idea I might be eligible for benefits based on his record even after we're divorced. Does anyone know if there are any good resources for understanding all the different Social Security rules? The SSA website is so confusing and full of legal jargon. I feel like I need a crash course in Social Security 101!