My ex and i were married more than 10 years. My ex is seven years younger than me. Do i have to wait until he is 62 and i am 69 to collect spousal benefits? I have not remarried and do qualify for benefits on my own from working.
Thanks!

Hi,

Probably, yes. The only way that you could potentially be paid divorced spousal benefits before your ex reaches age 62 is if he either starts drawing Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits or dies.

You could potentially file for your own benefits as early as age 62 and then receive divorced spousal benefits later, but as long as your ex is still living you'd only qualify for divorced spousal benefits if 50% of your ex's primary insurance amount (PIA) is higher than your own PIA. A person's PIA is equal to their Social Security retirement benefit rate if they start drawing their benefits at full retirement age (FRA). However, if you start drawing your benefits prior to full retirement age (FRA), you'll keep the reduction for age applied to your benefit rate even if you later become eligible for additional divorced spousal benefits.

For example, say Amy files for her benefits in this year at age 62. Amy's primary insurance amount (PIA), or full retirement age rate, would be $800, but Amy's rate is reduced for age to $576. After Amy reaches FRA her ex-husband turns age 62. Amy's husband's PIA is $2000, so Amy will then be able to claim an unreduced divorced spousal benefit calculated by subtracting her PIA from 50% of her ex-husband's PIA. In Amy's case, that amounts to $200 (i.e. $2000/2 - $800). That amount would then be added to Amy's own reduced rate of $576 to give her a combined rate of $776 (i.e. $576 + $200).

You may want to consider using our software (https://maximizemysocialsecurity.com/purchase) to analyze the various options available to you in order to determine your best strategy for maximizing benefits.

Best, Jerry