Divorce may end a marriage, but it doesn’t necessarily erase the Social Security benefits connected to an ex-spouse’s work history. In fact, some divorced retirees can receive benefits based on a former spouse’s earnings record without reducing what that former spouse (or a current spouse) receives. The catch is that Social Security benefits for divorced spouses come with several eligibility rules, including one involving exactly how long the marriage lasted. Someone whose divorce became final shortly before a significant Social Security deadline could discover years later that the timing eliminated a benefit they might otherwise have received. Whether you’ve been divorced for decades or are approaching retirement after a recent split, these rules deserve a place in your Social Security planning.
