Benefits for a divorced spouse or surviving divorced spouse may be payable if certain conditions exist:
The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years or more;
You must not be currently married;
You must be age 62 or older;
Your ex-spouse must be at least age 62 or older, disabled or deceased;
The marriage of a divorced spouse will terminate entitlement to such benefits unless the marriage is to an individual entitled to widow(er)’s, mother’s, father’s, CDB, divorced spouse’s, or parents benefits. The divorced spouse can be entitled or re-entitled to benefits if he/she was divorced from the Number Holder and remarried but the later marriage terminated, provided the other requirements for entitlement are met.
The marriage of a surviving divorced spouse will not terminate entitlement to such benefits if the remarriage took place after attaining age 60.
Benefit payments are computed the same as for spouses and widows.
You do not need to know the Social Security number or the whereabouts of your ex-spouse to file for benefits. The Social Security Administration will find this information for you.
Taking benefits from your ex-spouse will not affect their benefits or the benefits of the current spouse if they are remarried.
The options for a surviving divorced spouse are the same as those for a widow/widower. The options for a divorced spouse are the same as a spouse except the restricted application process. Also, an independently divorced spouse can draw benefits even if their ex-spouse is not receiving Social Security benefits if you meet the requirements above and the divorce was more than 2 years in the past.