Can my remarried ex-husband still collect Social Security benefits based on my earnings record?

Yes, your ex-husband CAN collect on your record even if remarried - BUT only if his current marriage occurred after he turned 60. The remarriage rule for divorced spouse benefits has this important exception. If he remarried before age 60, then no, he couldn't collect on your record. Also, you need to have been married for at least 10 years before the divorce for him to be eligible for ex-spouse benefits. His early claiming (before FRA) means he's getting a reduced benefit amount - around 70-75% of what he'd get at full retirement age.

If he got remarried before 60 he CAN'T collect on your record. somebody messed up. My brother tried to do this and SSA told him NO WAY when they found out he was remarried at 55.

This happened to my friend! Her ex was collecting on her record when he shouldn't have been eligible. You need to CALL SSA directly to report this. It might take several tries to get through though - their phone lines are always jammed. Took my friend 3 days of calling to finally reach someone who could help. Once she got through, they investigated and fixed it.

I think you're misunderstanding something important here. Are you SURE he's collecting on your record? Because SSA doesn't notify you when an ex claims on your record, and it doesn't affect your benefits at all. How did you find out he was collecting on your record specifically? Also, is it possible he's collecting survivor benefits from another deceased spouse? Those have different remarriage rules.

the ssa rules r so confusing!!! my ex tried 2 claim on my record even tho we were only married 8 yrs and they rejected him. then he tried again saying we were married 10 yrs (lie!!!) and somehow it went thru until i found out and reported him. definitely call them!!!!!

Just to clarify some misunderstandings I'm seeing: If your ex remarried before age 60, he CANNOT receive benefits on your record UNLESS that subsequent marriage has also ended (by death, divorce, or annulment). Could his second marriage have ended recently? That would make him eligible again. Also, his claiming on your record has ZERO impact on your future benefits - you'll still get your full amount when you claim.

I handled a similar situation for a client last year. Here's what you need to know: 1. Divorced spouse benefits require 10+ years of marriage (you had 15, so that's met) 2. If he remarried before 60 and is STILL in that marriage, he is NOT eligible for benefits on your record 3. It's possible he's receiving benefits on his OWN record and misrepresented the situation to your daughter 4. Or there could be an actual error at SSA Either way, this won't affect your benefits at all. But if he's incorrectly receiving benefits he's not entitled to, SSA would want to know. When you call, request to speak with a Title II Claims Specialist specifically, as they handle retirement and divorced spouse benefits.

To answer the question about repayment - yes, if SSA determines he received benefits he wasn't entitled to, they will assess an overpayment and he'll have to pay it back. However, if he can prove he accepted the payments in good faith and didn't know he was ineligible, he might be able to request a waiver of recovery of the overpayment. But those are hard to get approved unless there's genuine financial hardship.

Thank you all for the helpful information! I tried calling SSA this morning but couldn't get through after waiting for over an hour. I'll try again tomorrow and might try that Claimyr service if I can't get through. I'm still working and have decent income, so I'm not worried about my own benefits, but it bothers me if he's getting something he's not entitled to. I'll update once I learn more about what's actually going on.

Just wanted to add some perspective from someone who works in benefits administration - this situation is actually more common than you might think. SSA processes millions of claims and sometimes errors do slip through, especially with complex eligibility rules like divorced spouse benefits. When you do get through to them, be prepared with specific information: your ex-husband's full name, approximate date he started receiving benefits, and the fact that he remarried before age 60 while still married. Also, don't be surprised if the first representative you speak with needs to transfer you to someone more specialized - divorced spouse benefit rules are tricky and not all front-line staff are fully trained on them. The good news is that once you report a potential issue, they take it seriously and will investigate thoroughly.