Percentage chart for ex-spouse Social Security benefits based on application age?
I'm planning to apply for Social Security benefits based on my ex-husband's record (we were married 12 years). I'll be turning 62 in May 2025, but I'm wondering if I should wait longer to get more money. Is there a chart or calculator that shows what percentage of his benefits I can receive at different ages? I know full retirement age is 67 for me, but I'm not sure how much I'd be losing if I apply earlier. My financial situation isn't great right now, so I'm trying to balance immediate needs with long-term benefits. Thanks for any guidance!
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Zainab Khalil
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.
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Miguel Ortiz
•Thank you for this breakdown! This is exactly what I was looking for. Do you know if there's any advantage to waiting beyond my FRA of 67? Would I get more than 100% if I wait until 70 like with regular retirement benefits?
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QuantumQuest
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
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Miguel Ortiz
•Thanks for the suggestion. I've been trying to call the SSA for three days now but keep getting disconnected or told the wait time is over 2 hours. Might have to keep trying though.
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Connor Murphy
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.
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QuantumQuest
•so true!! the website is never working right lol
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Yara Haddad
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.
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Miguel Ortiz
•I've never heard of this service before. I'll definitely look into it because these disconnections are driving me crazy. Thanks for the suggestion!
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Keisha Robinson
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!
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Miguel Ortiz
•Oh! I am still working about 25 hours a week. I had no idea there was an earnings limit. Thanks for mentioning this - I definitely need to look into that too.
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Paolo Conti
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
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Zainab Khalil
•The amount you receive is the higher of either your own benefit or up to 50% of your ex's full retirement age benefit (reduced for early filing). So if your own work history would eventually generate a higher benefit, they'll start you with the ex-spouse benefit and switch you later. This is why getting a personalized calculation is so important.
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Amina Sow
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.
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Zainab Khalil
•Yes, they're completely different benefits. As a divorced spouse, you can get up to 50% of your ex's FRA benefit (reduced if you claim early). But as a surviving divorced spouse, you can get up to 100% of what your ex was receiving at death (or would have received if they hadn't claimed yet). Survivor benefits also have different age reduction factors than spousal benefits. It's definitely worth understanding both types.
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Miguel Ortiz
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.
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Connor Murphy
•Make sure when you talk to them you ask SPECIFICALLY about the earnings limit and get them to CALCULATE it for your situation. They tried to rush me off the phone without explaining it properly and I ended up with a $4,200 overpayment notice!!!
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