Can my disabled ex-spouse claim Social Security on my record if she's currently on SSI?

Yes, your ex-wife can potentially claim ex-spousal benefits on your record, since you were married for at least 10 years. Here's what you need to know: 1. She can receive up to 50% of your FRA benefit amount (so potentially around $1,650/month based on your projected $3,300). 2. This will NOT reduce your benefit in any way. Ex-spousal benefits have no impact on the primary earner. 3. SSI is means-tested, but Social Security retirement/spousal benefits are not. If her ex-spousal benefit would be higher than her current SSI payment (which is likely), it would make financial sense. She would need to be at least 62 to claim ex-spousal benefits, unless she's eligible for disabled widow benefits, which have different rules. Also, if she remarried, she generally can't collect on your record unless her later marriage ended.

my situation was similar... sorta. my ex got SSI too but we were only married 8 yrs so she couldnt claim on mine. but the 50% thing is right, it definitely wont affect ur payment at all. she might get way more than SSI pays her now so def worth it for her to apply when the time comes

Just to add a detail - your ex-wife's SSI will almost certainly be terminated when she starts receiving Social Security benefits on your record. SSI has a very strict income limit (around $943/month for individuals in 2025), and if she gets $1,650 from your record, she'll be well over that limit. SSI is basically a program of last resort. But this would be GOOD news for her, since SS benefits on your record would be substantially higher than the maximum SSI payment, and she wouldn't have the severe asset restrictions that come with SSI (can't have more than $2,000 in resources). Also, after 24 months on SSDI or as a disabled widow, she would qualify for Medicare, which is generally better coverage than Medicaid (which comes with SSI).

WRONG INFO ABOVE!!! If she's disabled and was your wife for 10+ years, she might be able to get benefits on your record NOW as a disabled divorced spouse, even before you retire!!! She wouldn't have to wait until 62! Check this out from SSA: https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/disability/qualify.html#anchor8 She'd need to meet these requirements: - Be at least 50 - Be disabled - Your marriage lasted at least 10 years - She's unmarried - She's not eligible for a higher benefit on her own CALL SSA DIRECTLY about this!!

Has anyone tried calling the SSA to get clear answers on this stuff? I spent TWO HOURS on hold last week trying to figure out a similar question about my own ex and then got disconnected right when someone finally answered!!! Did you know there are 10,000 people retiring EVERY DAY now? No wonder we can't get through to them...

This has been really helpful, everyone. To summarize what I've learned: 1. Yes, my ex can claim on my record since we were married for 10 years 2. She could get up to 50% of my FRA benefit 3. It won't reduce my own benefit 4. She'd need to wait until either she's 62 or I start collecting (whichever comes first) 5. She would likely lose SSI but would get more money overall 6. She'd be free from the $2,000 asset limit, which is huge I'll make sure to let her know about these options as we get closer to retirement age. Thanks again for all the great information!

hey op somthing nobody said yet - if ur ex ever remarried then she CANT get benefits from ur record anymore. just making sure u know that part

I just went thru this with my sister who is on SSI!! She was able to switch to ex-spouse benefits when her ex retired and she gets like $1300 now instead of the $900ish from SSI. AND she can actually have a savings account now without losing benefits!!! It made a HUGE difference for her quality of life!!

One thing I'd add from my experience working with SSA clients - make sure your ex-wife understands that switching from SSI to divorced spouse benefits isn't just about the money (though that's obviously important). With SSI, she's also getting Medicaid coverage. When she switches to Social Security benefits, she'll lose Medicaid but won't automatically get Medicare unless she's been on SSDI for 24+ months or is over 65. Since she's only been on SSI (not SSDI), there could be a healthcare coverage gap to plan for. She might need to look into ACA marketplace plans or other coverage options during that transition period. It's worth factoring those potential healthcare costs into the financial comparison when deciding whether to make the switch.

I'm just learning about all this myself, but from what I've read, people transitioning from SSI to Social Security benefits can sometimes qualify for subsidized marketplace plans depending on their income level. The subsidy eligibility is based on your total household income compared to the Federal Poverty Level. If her ex-spousal benefit puts her income between 100-400% of FPL, she might still qualify for premium tax credits. But you're right that it gets complicated fast! Another thing to consider - some states have expanded Medicaid programs that might provide coverage even with slightly higher income levels. It really depends on what state she's in. I'd definitely recommend she talk to a navigator or counselor through healthcare.gov when the time comes to explore her options during that potential coverage gap. This whole thread has been so educational - there are so many interconnected pieces with SSI, Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid that I never realized!

As someone who recently went through a similar situation with my ex-husband, I wanted to share a few practical tips that might help. First, I'd strongly recommend that both of you create my Social Security accounts online at ssa.gov if you haven't already - this will give you access to benefit estimates and make it easier to track everything. Also, keep in mind that your ex-wife will need to provide documentation when she applies for divorced spouse benefits, including your marriage certificate, divorce decree, and her birth certificate. It's worth gathering those documents now so there are no delays later. One more thing - if your projected benefit increases significantly before you retire (due to continued earnings), her potential divorced spouse benefit would increase too, since it's based on 50% of your FRA amount. So both of you benefit from you continuing to work and potentially increase your earnings record. The planning ahead approach you're taking is really smart and shows you care about both your futures!