Social Security survivor benefits after short marriage to deceased ex-husband

For divorced spouse survivor benefits, the marriage needs to have lasted at least 10 years. Unfortunately, with only 6 years of marriage, you wouldn't qualify for survivor benefits based on your ex-husband's record. The 10-year rule is a strict requirement for divorced spouse benefits (both regular and survivor). Since you're already at your FRA (68) and have a relatively small benefit amount, waiting until 70 to maximize your own retirement benefit is probably still your best strategy. Your benefit will continue to grow by 8% per year until age 70.

The previous responses contain some misinformation. For divorced spouse survivor benefits, the 10-year marriage duration requirement applies ONLY if your ex is still alive. If your ex-spouse is deceased, different rules apply. For survivor benefits as a divorced widow, you need to meet these requirements: 1. Your marriage lasted at least 10 years OR 2. You're caring for your ex-spouse's child who is under 16 or disabled 3. You're unmarried (or remarried after age 60) 4. You're at least 60 years old (50 if disabled) Since your marriage was only 6 years and you don't mention having children with your ex, unfortunately you wouldn't qualify for survivor benefits. Your original plan to wait until 70 to maximize your own benefit is probably still your best option.

Sorry about ur situation my friend went thru something similar. Have u actually tried calling SSA yet? Sometimes the rules have exceptions or maybe theres some other benefit u could get.

The problem with trying to call SSA is you'll be on hold FOREVER!!! I tried calling them about my widows benefits last month and was on hold for TWO HOURS before I got disconnected. Then called back and waited another hour before giving up. Their phone system is a NIGHTMARE and the offices are still backed up from covid. It's absolutely ridiculous how they treat seniors who need help!!

Just wanted to share my experience - I thought I wouldn't qualify for anything from my ex because we were only married 8 years, but it turned out I was eligible for a small death benefit (the one-time $255 payment) even though I couldn't get monthly survivor benefits. Not much, but it's something. Different situation though because we were still married when he died.

One other aspect to consider if your own benefit is low: have you checked if you qualify for SSI (Supplemental Security Income)? If your resources and income are below certain limits, you might qualify for SSI now, even while waiting to claim your retirement benefit at 70. Another option worth exploring: if you worked fewer years than your ex-spouse, you might want to calculate whether claiming at 68 (now) might actually be better than waiting until 70. The extra 2 years of payments might outweigh the 16% increase you'd get by waiting, depending on your life expectancy and financial needs. I'd recommend using the calculators on ssa.gov or scheduling an appointment with a claims specialist to run different scenarios.

This is exactly why Social Security rules need to be reformed. The arbitrary 10-year cutoff for divorce benefits hurts many people who fall just short. After all, 6 years is still a significant relationship, and your ex contributed to the system his entire career. Unfortunately, until Congress changes these rules, SSA representatives have to follow them exactly as written. For now, I agree with the suggestion to look into SSI while waiting for your retirement benefits. Also consider whether you might qualify for any state-based assistance programs that could help bridge the gap until age 70.