The Divorced Man’s Guide to Social Security

A divorced man is due social security benefits from his ex-wife if she made more money.
The Divorced Man’s Guide to Social Security
A divorced man must have been married to his ex-wife for at least 10 years to get social security benefits from her. SynthEx/Shutterstock
Tom Margenau
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Over the 27 years I’ve been writing this column, I have probably written a hundred columns directed at divorced women. But after answering emails from men who had questions about benefits for divorcees, it dawned on me that I’ve never written a column for divorced men. Today, I'll make up for that.

I should point out that I will be concentrating on the benefits a husband’s ex-wife can get on his Social Security account—and what effects those benefits have on his own Social Security or on benefits due to a subsequent wife. Why? Because those are the kinds of questions I get from men.

Tom Margenau
Tom Margenau
Author
Tom Margenau worked for 32 years in a variety of positions for the Social Security Administration before retiring in 2005. He has served as the director of SSA’s public information office, the chief editor of more than 100 SSA publications, a deputy press officer and spokesman, and a speechwriter for the commissioner of Social Security. For 12 years, he also wrote Social Security columns for local newspapers, and recently published the book “Social Security: Simple and Smart.” If you have a Social Security question, contact him at [email protected]
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