I'm 11 years older than my ex. We were divorced approximately 20 years ago, and I've made most of my social security wages since the divorce. I believe we barely made the 10 years of marriage but its close. I am now 70 and have waited to apply for my benefits so they will be higher -- approx $3300 a month. She will not turn 62 for 3 or 4 years, and also has her own Social Security earnings although less than mine and she underreports her income anyway. 1. Do I get my $3300 a month until she turns 62? Or do my benefits get reduced immediately even before / if she makes a claim? 2. It says that whatever her claim, it does not change the amount I receive. Is that correct? So I will continue to receive the $3300 plus increases? Or how does this work with the spouse's benefits in terms of what it does to the amount I get monthly?

Hi,

Nothing that your ex-wife collects from Social Security would have any effect on your Social Security benefits. If she's able to collect divorced spousal benefits at some point, those benefits would be payable in addition to your being able to collect your full amount.

Social Security spousal and divorced spousal benefits are auxiliary benefits, meaning that they are paid in addition to the worker's own benefit. Payment of auxiliary benefits does not cause the worker on whose record the auxiliary benefits are paid to receive a lower benefit rate.

Best, Jerry