Divorced After 12 Years? You Can Claim Half Your Ex's Social Security Without His Knowledge

"A divorced spouse can draw on an ex's earnings record if four conditions are met: the marriage lasted at least 10 years, she is currently unmarried and at least 62, and the ex is at least 62. The ex doesn't have to have filed for benefits, as long as the divorce finalized two or more years ago. Social Security will not contact him, and his benefit stays the same."

"Social Security pays the higher of her own benefit or the ex-spousal benefit, not both. At her full retirement (FRA) age of 67, that benefit equals 50% of her ex's primary insurance amount, or $1,600 a month against his $3,200. Compared to her own $1,200, that's a gain of $400 per month, or $4,800 a year, for life."

"The 50% figure only applies if she waits until her FRA. Filing earlier shrinks the spousal portion meaningfully. The Social Security Administration (SSA) pays divorcees roughly 72% of the spousal amount at age 62, climbing to 100% at full retirement age. On her $1,600 target, starting at 62 instead of 67 leaves her with roughly $1,140, about $460 short every month. That gap compounds across a 25-year retirement."

"Cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) then ride on whichever benefit she collects. With CPI running at 330.3 in March 2026, up from 320.6 a year ea"

A divorced person may be able to claim Social Security benefits based on an ex-spouse’s earnings record without the ex’s knowledge or cooperation. Eligibility generally requires a marriage lasting at least 10 years, the claimant being unmarried and at least 62, and the ex being at least 62. The ex does not need to have filed, as long as the divorce finalized at least two years earlier. Social Security pays the higher of the claimant’s own benefit or the ex-spousal benefit, not both. Waiting until full retirement age can maximize the spousal portion, while filing earlier reduces it. Cost-of-living adjustments apply to the benefit being received.

Read at 24/7 Wall St.