I married my ex-husband in 1998. We divorced in 2016. With nothing. We moved 9 time while I had to quit school 3 times, to follow his career. I was forbidden to work outside the home. Two children, whom I was a single married parent to. He traveled all over, once living 16-18 months in a different state. We filed taxes together. So where does a full time mother, with no vacation, no sick days, taxi driver, house keeper, dog sitter, fall in the tax bracket. I was with him when we had nothing. Now he is President of a pharmaceutical company. He would not be where he is, if not for me. He remarried 3-5 months after our divorce. He payed alimony. In the sum of, what he spends on his monthly dry cleaning bill. I live in an 11 square ft home. While he earns more than half million $ a year. Let me add, he did the finances. I knew nothing about taxes, I was never informed of his accounts. I know he hid money from me. He wrote up the divorce papers, I trusted him. And here I am, no health insurance. No income. I’m 50 yrs old. Never worked our entire marriage. So what am I entitled to?

Hi,

With regard to Social Security benefits, it doesn't sound like you'd be eligible for any benefits at this time. The earliest that you could qualify for divorced spousal benefits based on your ex's Social Security is when you reach age 62, assuming that your ex-husband is at least age 62 at that time or if he's drawing Social Security disability (SSDI) benefits. The fact that your ex has remarried would have no effect on your ability to qualify for divorced spousal benefits, but if you remarry then you couldn't qualify for divorced spousal benefits as long as your remarriage continues.

If your ex-husband dies before you, you could potentially qualify for surviving divorced spousal benefits as early as age 60, or as early as age 50 if you're disabled.

Best, Jerry