Benefits For Your Surviving Divorced Spouse

If you have a surviving divorced spouse, he or she could get benefits just the same as a widow or widower provided that your marriage lasted 10 years or more.

Benefits paid to a surviving divorced spouse who meets the age or disability requirement as a widow or widower won't affect the benefit amounts your other survivors will receive based on your earnings record.

If your former spouse is caring for your child who is under age 16 or disabled who gets benefits on your record, he or she will not have to meet the length-of-marriage rule.  (The child must be your natural or legally adopted child.) However, if he or she qualifies for benefits as a surviving divorced mother or father who is caring for your child, his or her benefits may affect the amount of benefits your other survivors will receive based on your earnings record.

Please note:If your surviving divorced spouse will also receive a pension based on work not covered by Social Security, such as government or foreign work, his or her Social Security benefit on your record may be affected.

Select one of the links below to get additional information about

• survivors benefits for your widow or widower,
• survivors benefits for your children, and
• how much your survivors would receive.