• 18
  • January
    2012

Many baby boomers nearing retirement age may be looking at their social security benefits a little closer, seeing it as a potential source of income. Some of them might be disappointed that their benefit is so low. Former spouses in Hudson Valley might be able to seek spousal support in the form of social security even years after a divorce. Many people who were divorced years ago might not have considered their entitlement to a spouses social security benefit.

For women that were married many years ago and stayed at home to take raise children, might have a much lower social security benefit than their former spouse. They might have lower benefit because if they spent less time in the work force and had a lower income, their benefit would be lower.

Many times a former spouse can get half of their exes benefit as a part of spousal support without even involving them, because it won't change their benefit and the Social Security Administration can access their records to review your claim.

You must have been married for over 10 years to collect on a spouses benefit plus:

•· Your spouse has to be collecting Social Security and you must be unmarried and over 62.

•· You must both be over 62, your spouse isn't collecting benefits and your have been divorce for two years.

•· Your ex didn't take Social Security until after retirement age.

•· If your former spouse is dead, you must be over 60.

Although every situation is unique, many times it is possible for former spouses to collect on an exes Social Security benefit.

Source: Yahoo Finance, "Boosting Mom's Social Security Payments," Ellen E. Schultz, Jan. 17, 2012