General living divorced-spouse eligibility
SSA's general rules include a marriage lasting at least 10 years, being unmarried, and being age 62 or older. The former spouse must be entitled to retirement or disability benefits, subject to the independent-entitlement rule.
If a former spouse has not applied but is eligible for retirement benefits, a divorced spouse may qualify independently after at least two continuous years of divorce when the other requirements are met. SSA determines eligibility; this website does not.
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Benefits are coordinated, not simply added
Your own retirement or disability benefit affects eligibility and the amount payable as a divorced spouse. A spousal amount can be up to 50 percent of the worker's primary insurance amount at full retirement age, and claiming earlier may reduce the payable benefit.
Do not add a full own-record benefit to a full spousal benefit in a retirement budget. Ask SSA to explain your own record, any additional amount, claiming ages and applicable earnings restrictions.
Survivor benefits are different
A surviving divorced spouse may qualify under different rules, including different age and remarriage provisions. Do not use the living divorced-spouse checklist to decide a survivor claim.
Ask SSA directly for current eligibility and coordinated benefit estimates. Do not provide Social Security numbers or former-spouse identity through SBC's website.