Social Security Myth #3: My ex-spouse’s decisions could have a negative impact on my retirement benefits

If you’re divorced, you may be able to claim spousal benefits. If your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you haven’t remarried, and you’ve reached your FRA, you can receive either your own benefit or 50% of your ex-spouse’s Social Security benefit at your personal insurance amount (PIA) or full retirement age, whichever is higher.

If you’ve decided to choose your ex’s benefit, the next thing you should do is schedule an appointment with your local SSA office. Make sure you bring documents that prove both the divorce and the marriage. They will tell you which options you have, and when you submit your claim, you’ll get the highest benefit.

Tip: You don’t need to talk about your decision with your ex-spouse, and contrary to this Social Security myth, your ex-spouse’s claim doesn’t affect or reduce your benefit in any way, and vice versa. It’s your retirement benefit, even if you two divorced long ago. And it may be higher than your own individual benefit.