Social Security ex-spouse benefits - does my ex's FRA matter or can I claim at 62?

The most important thing to understand is that your ex's filing status doesn't matter AT ALL for divorced spouse benefits. That's different from current spouse benefits. As long as you were married 10+ years and are currently unmarried, you can file for divorced spouse benefits when YOU are 62, regardless of whether your ex has filed or not (as long as he's eligible for benefits and you've been divorced at least 2 years). But filing at 62 means you'll get a reduced benefit - only about 32.5% of his PIA instead of 50% if you wait until your FRA.

my sister did this last yr. she got WAY less $ becuz she filed at 62 for her exs record!!!! wish she waited til her FRA honestly

You need to understand two important concepts here: 1. Your ex's filing status or age is completely irrelevant for divorced spousal benefits (as long as you've been divorced 2+ years). 2. YOUR age when you file is what determines the reduction. At your FRA you get 50% of his PIA (Primary Insurance Amount). File earlier and you get less - as much as a 30% reduction if you file at 62. One more critical point - if your own retirement benefit would be higher than the divorced spouse benefit, you'll get your own benefit amount instead. The SSA automatically gives you whichever is higher. I strongly recommend making an appointment with SSA to review your specific situation, but be prepared for long wait times if you call them. I recently had to call about my benefits and found a service called Claimyr that got me through to an agent in about 15 minutes instead of waiting for hours. You can see how it works at https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU or check their site at claimyr.com. It was a lifesaver in my situation.

DONT LISTEN TO ALL THESE PEOPLE!!! the rules changed in 2015 with that budget bill thing! you can't CHOOSE anymore which benefit to take first!! they MAKE you take your own retirement first now and only give you extra if the divorce benefit is higher! all these people giving old advice!!

I went through this exact situation last year. Here's what I learned: your ex's age or whether they've filed does NOT matter for divorced spouse benefits. You can file as early as 62, but you'll get a reduced amount (I think around 32.5% of their benefit instead of 50% if you wait until your full retirement age). In my case, I waited until my FRA (66 and 4 months for me) to get the full 50% of my ex's benefit. It was worth the wait in my situation because my own work record benefit was lower than half of his. The SSA automatically gives you whichever is higher. One thing no one mentioned - if you're still working while collecting benefits before your FRA, be aware of the earnings limit ($21,240 in 2023, likely higher in 2025). If you earn over that, they'll withhold $1 in benefits for every $2 you earn over the limit.

The whole system is designed to be confusing on purpose!! They don't want to pay out money so they make it impossible to understand when to file. I filed for divorced benefits last year and the entire experience was a nightmare. Waited 4 hours on the phone and then they said I needed more documentation. Then another 3 hour wait the next time. Our tax dollars at work 🙄

wait can u claim on a ex spouse if their remarried????

Thank you everyone for the helpful information! Just to make sure I understand correctly: 1. My ex's age doesn't matter for my benefit amount 2. MY age when I file is what matters - 62 for reduced or my FRA for full 50% 3. SSA will give me whichever is higher - my own benefit or the divorced spouse benefit 4. I need to watch out for the earnings limit if I'm working I think I'll wait until my FRA to avoid the reduction, unless my financial situation changes. I appreciate all the advice!