Do I need my birth certificate to claim Social Security ex-spouse benefits after 24-year marriage?

same thing happened with me last yr... they INSISTED on seeing my birth certificate even tho i had passport, drivers license everything!! so annoying

I went through this process last year. Yes, SSA typically requires a birth certificate when you're filing for any type of benefits, including ex-spouse benefits. While your REAL ID proves identity, the birth certificate specifically verifies your age and citizenship status. However, if you absolutely cannot obtain your original birth certificate, SSA sometimes accepts alternative documents like a religious record of birth or early school records. But honestly, it's best to just get the birth certificate sent to you to avoid delays. The SSA is very particular about documentation, especially for divorced spouse benefits where they're verifying multiple relationship factors.

When I was trying to get my spousal benefits (I'm still married though), I had the WORST time getting through to Social Security to ask questions like this. After being on hold for 3+ hours and getting disconnected twice, I found this service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 20 minutes. You might want to check them out at claimyr.com - they have a video showing how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU. Saved me so much frustration, and the agent I spoke with confirmed I needed my birth certificate even with a REAL ID.

I'm a retired federal employee who worked closely with SSA. Here's the definitive answer: For ex-spouse benefits, SSA requires: 1. Proof of age (birth certificate is preferred but passport is usually accepted) 2. Marriage certificate 3. Divorce decree showing marriage lasted at least 10 years 4. Your Social Security number and your ex's (if you have it) If you have a valid unexpired passport, that's typically acceptable as proof of age instead of a birth certificate. If you don't have a passport, you should arrange to get your birth certificate. Don't rely on a REAL ID alone - while it proves identity, SSA has specific documentation requirements for age verification when calculating benefits. The safest approach is to call your local SSA office directly before applying and confirm exactly what documents they'll accept in your specific situation.

i didnt need birth certificate when i filed for my own benefits last year but maybe its different for ex spouse benefits? idk the rules are confusing

CALL BEFORE YOU GO!!! I went through this nightmare last year trying to get widow benefits. Dragged myself down to the SS office with all my papers and they told me the system was down and I needed to come back!! And when I did come back they said I was missing stuff that nobody told me about the first time. Always call first to confirm EXACTLY what you need. The requirements can be different based on your specific situation and sometimes even depends on which agent you get!!!

my friend just got her exhusbands ss and she had to have birth certificate. they made her show everything marriage divorce the works

One more thing to consider - make sure your ex is actually eligible for Social Security (either currently receiving benefits or eligible to receive them). You can only claim ex-spouse benefits if they're eligible, and you'll need to know their Social Security number or date of birth when you apply. Also, since you mentioned you're 66, that means you're at or very close to your full retirement age (FRA), which is good timing for ex-spouse benefits.