Percentage chart for ex-spouse Social Security benefits based on application age?

Yes, there is a reduction chart for early filing. If you claim ex-spouse benefits at 62, you'll receive approximately 65% of what you'd get at your full retirement age (67). Each year you wait increases the percentage: Age 62: 65% Age 63: 70% Age 64: 75% Age 65: 80% Age 66: 86.7% Age 67 (FRA): 100% Remember that your ex must be at least 62 (even if not claiming yet), and you must remain unmarried to claim on his record. Also, if your own work record would provide a higher benefit, SSA will pay you that amount instead.

my sister had same question last year. she ended up just going to the SSA office with appointment. they printed her a whole chart thing with dollar amounts based on HER situation. might be worth calling them

I went through this last year with my ex. The percentages the first commenter posted are right BUT what they don't tell you is that the SSA website calculator is COMPLETELY USELESS for ex-spouse benefits!!! It kept giving me errors or showing my own benefit instead. I spent WEEKS trying to get through on the phone. The whole system is DESIGNED to make us give up!!! And then when I finally got someone they couldn't even explain why the numbers were so different from what I calculated myself.

I had similar questions last month and found that calling SSA was nearly impossible until I tried a service called Claimyr. It got me connected to an agent in about 20 minutes instead of waiting for hours or getting disconnected. The agent was able to calculate my specific ex-spouse benefit amounts at different ages, which was way more helpful than the general charts online. I'd recommend checking out their video demo at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU to see how it works. Their website is claimyr.com. It saved me a ton of frustration.

One thing no one mentioned yet is that you need to also factor in whether you're still working! I claimed ex-spouse benefits at 63 not realizing I would be hit with the earnings test since I was still working part-time. They took back almost half my benefits because I earned over the limit ($21,240 in 2025). Make sure you consider that too!

i got divorced three years ago after 22 years married and i just turned 62 last week. applied for my ex husband benefits and got approved but the amount was so small i was shocked!!! only getting $1087 a month even though he was making good money. they said something about my own benefit being higher eventually but right now this is what i get. just giving you real numbers to consider

I have a slightly different question related to this. If my ex-husband passes away, does that change the percentage I can get? I thought I heard that survivor benefits are different from just regular divorced spouse benefits. Sorry to hijack your post but it seemed related enough.

Thanks everyone for all the helpful information! I've made notes on all the percentages and considerations. I think I'm going to use that Claimyr service to get through to SSA and get my personalized calculation, especially since I need to understand how the earnings limit might affect me. It sounds like waiting until at least 63 or 64 might be a good compromise for my situation, but I want to see the actual dollar amounts before deciding.

Just wanted to add one more thing that helped me when I was in a similar situation - you can create a my Social Security account online at ssa.gov and it will show you estimates for your own retirement benefits at different ages. While it won't calculate the ex-spouse benefits directly, it can help you understand what your own benefit would be so you can compare. Also, if you're really struggling financially, don't forget that you might qualify for other assistance programs while you're deciding about Social Security timing. The Area Agency on Aging in your county often has counselors who can help you think through all these decisions together. Good luck!

I'm in a very similar situation and this thread has been incredibly informative! I'm 61 and will be eligible for ex-spouse benefits next year after a 14-year marriage. Reading through everyone's experiences, I'm realizing there are so many factors I hadn't considered - the earnings test, deemed filing, and the fact that there's no benefit to waiting past full retirement age for ex-spouse benefits. I'm particularly interested in the local SSA office approach that several people mentioned. Has anyone had luck making an appointment ahead of time, or is the early morning walk-in strategy generally better? Also, for those who used the Claimyr service, was it worth the cost, or did you find the in-person SSA visit gave you everything you needed? Thanks to everyone for sharing such detailed experiences - this is exactly the kind of practical advice that's hard to find elsewhere!