At Richmond Brothers, we know Social Security decisions can feel overwhelming — especially when your situation includes a divorce, remarriage, or uncertainty around your ex-spouse’s benefits. One common question we hear is:

“Can I collect Social Security based on my ex-spouse’s record — even if we’re no longer in touch?”

The short answer? Yes, you can — under the right circumstances.

Let’s break it down with a real-world, hypothetical scenario.

👤 Meet Linda:

Linda is single, turning 62 soon, and plans to begin her Social Security benefits based on her ex-husband’s work record. They were married for 28 years, divorced 3 years ago, and he is now 67 and still working. Linda isn’t sure if he’s filed for benefits yet — and understandably, she’d rather not ask him directly.

Her questions:

1. How can I find out what I’m eligible for — without asking my ex?
2. If he keeps working and earns more, will my benefit increase too?

💡 What Linda — and others in her shoes — should know:

1. You don’t need to contact your ex.
   Social Security allows divorced spouses to get benefit estimates without involving the ex-spouse directly. To check what you might be eligible for, you can contact the Social Security Administration (SSA) and request an estimate of your divorced spousal benefit. You’ll need to show proof of your marriage and divorce — so keep your marriage certificate and divorce decree handy. 📎 Learn more: SSA – Benefits For Your Divorced Spouse
2. You may qualify even if your ex hasn’t filed.
   Because Linda has been divorced for over two years and her ex is over 62, she’s considered independently entitled to spousal benefits — even if he hasn’t started collecting his own benefits yet. 📎 See also: SSA – Retirement Planner: If You Are Divorced
3. The most you can receive is 50% of your ex-spouse’s full retirement benefit.
   This amount is based on his Primary Insurance Amount (PIA) — the benefit he would receive at full retirement age. If Linda’s own benefit is less than 50% of her ex’s, she would receive the higher of the two — but not both combined.
4. Claiming early comes with a trade-off.
   Linda plans to file at age 62, which means her benefit will be permanently reduced compared to what she would have received at full retirement age (FRA). 📎 Learn more about early retirement reductions: SSA – Benefits By Age
5. If your ex keeps working, your benefit might increase.
   If his new earnings replace lower-earning years in his 35-year work history, his PIA may increase — and since your divorced spousal benefit is based on that number, yours could go up too. But if he’s already earned his highest 35 years, more earnings may not impact your benefit.

🧠 Final Thought:

Social Security rules can be complex — especially when ex-spouses, work history, and early filing come into play. But you don’t have to navigate these decisions alone.

At Richmond Brothers, our purpose is to help people live fearlessly into and beyond retirement. That means providing clarity and confidence when it comes to important decisions like Social Security — because when each piece of your retirement puzzle fits together, the future feels a lot less uncertain.

If you’d like to talk through which strategy might make the most sense for you, we’d love to chat.

When we work with someone, we’re not just answering one-off questions—like “When should I take Social Security?” We look at the full picture: your savings, tax strategy, income needs, and how everything fits together to support the lifestyle you want in retirement.

Feel free to give us a call at 517-435-4040 if you’re ready to start that conversation.