What documents do I need for ex-spouse Social Security benefits matrix printout?

You're on the right track with the documents, but there's a bit more to it. You'll need certified copies of both your marriage license and divorce decree, but also have your ex's SSN handy if possible (though they can look it up if you provide his full name and date of birth). The benefit comparison printout (what some call a "matrix") can technically be requested by phone, but honestly, getting through to SSA by phone these days is a nightmare. If you want this done efficiently, I'd recommend scheduling an in-person appointment. The online comparison tool on the SSA website doesn't fully account for ex-spouse benefits in all scenarios. Since you were married well over the required 10 years and have been divorced more than 2 years, you qualify for ex-spouse benefits without him having to file first, which is good news.

i got one of these printouts last yr but they didn't call it a matrix, they just said benefit estimate comparisons. had to go in person after trying phone for WEEKS. bring everything!!! birth certificate too and ur ss card. they ALWAYS want more documents than they tell u on the phone!!!

Just to clarify something important here - what you're looking for is actually called a "benefit comparison point calculation" or sometimes an "AERO computation" - not everyone at SSA knows what you mean by "matrix printout" (that's unofficial terminology some financial advisors use). For ex-spouse benefits, you'll definitely need: - Certified marriage certificate - Certified divorce decree - Your birth certificate - Your Social Security card - A photo ID While you technically can request this by phone, I successfully used Claimyr (claimyr.com) to get through to SSA without the endless waiting. They have a service that gets you connected to a real person at SSA usually within 20 minutes instead of waiting hours or getting disconnected. Check out their demo: https://youtu.be/Z-BRbJw3puU With your documents ready and a proper connection to SSA, you can often get preliminary numbers over the phone, then they'll mail you the official computation. For something as important as ex-spouse benefits comparison, having the actual agent walk you through the numbers is invaluable.

Why even bother with your ex's record? Just claim your own benefits and be done with it! My sister wasted MONTHS trying to get benefits on her ex's record and it was only like $50 more a month. Not worth the headache!

Has anyone else noticed how SS reps give different answers depending on who you talk to? I went through this exact process last year and the first person told me I couldn't get ex-spouse benefits until my ex retired (WRONG). Second person gave me accurate info. Make sure you talk to someone who really knows the rules about divorced spouse benefits!

This brings back memories from when I tried getting proper benefit calculations. Let me tell you MY STORY with this... went to SSA office with EVERY document I could think of. Marriage cert, divorce papers, birth cert, even tax returns! Got there at 8:15am (they open at 9) and STILL waited until 11:30 to see someone!!!! Then they told me the system was DOWN and to come back tomorrow!!! WASTED MY ENTIRE MORNING!!! The phone system is IMPOSSIBLE - I called 14 times in one day and either got disconnected or was on hold for hours. System is BROKEN!!! FINALLY got my benefit comparison but only because my neighbor's daughter works at SSA and helped me. If you don't know someone on the inside good luck!!!!!

Just wanted to say that once you get your benefit comparison, make sure you understand the impact of claiming early vs. waiting. I claimed at 62 on my ex's record and now regret it. Would have gotten 30% more if I'd waited until my FRA. No one explained that clearly to me at the time.

One quick tip - take detailed notes during any conversation with SSA. I always write down the date, time, name of the person I spoke with, and what they told me. Saved me multiple times when different reps gave conflicting info!

As someone who recently went through this exact process, I can confirm that having all your documents ready is crucial. I'd also suggest calling ahead to ask specifically for an "AERO computation" or "benefit comparison calculation" as others mentioned - using the right terminology really helps. One thing I learned that might save you some time: if you have a my Social Security account online, you can actually get some preliminary benefit estimates there first. It won't show the full ex-spouse benefit comparison, but it'll give you your own benefit estimates at different claiming ages. This can help you prepare better questions for when you do speak with SSA. Also, regarding timing - if your ex is already receiving benefits (which is likely if he's older), that can actually make the process smoother since his benefit amount is already established in their system. The 2-year post-divorce rule you've already satisfied means you can claim independently of his filing status. Good luck with getting through to them! The phone system is definitely frustrating, but persistence pays off.

Just wanted to add a few things that helped me when I went through this process last year. First, if you're planning to call SSA, try calling right when they open (8am local time) - you'll have much better luck getting through. Also, when you do get someone on the phone, don't hesitate to ask them to repeat back the key numbers to you to make sure you both heard correctly. One document tip that saved me a headache: make sure your divorce decree specifically states the marriage start and end dates. Some older divorce papers don't include the marriage date, and SSA needs both to verify the 10+ year requirement. If yours is missing that info, you might need to get an amended certified copy. Also, don't forget that you can potentially file a restricted application strategy if you were born before 1954 - this lets you claim spousal benefits while letting your own benefit grow with delayed retirement credits until age 70. Definitely worth asking about if you qualify! The whole process took me about 3 weeks from initial call to getting the final comparison paperwork, but it was absolutely worth it to see all my options laid out clearly.