Florida Social Security Divorce Benefits Calculator

Yes, if your marriage lasted at least 10 years, you are currently unmarried, at least 62 years old, and your ex-spouse qualifies for Social Security benefits. Under 42 U.S.C. § 402(b), you can receive up to 50% of their full retirement age benefit. You do not need your ex-spouse's permission, and the SSA will not notify them of your claim.

The maximum divorced spouse benefit is 50% of your ex-spouse's primary insurance amount, available when you claim at your full retirement age (67 for those born in 1960 or later). Claiming early at age 62 reduces the benefit to approximately 32.5%. There is no advantage to delaying past full retirement age — the benefit caps at 50% regardless.

No. Your divorced spouse benefit comes from a separate federal allocation and does not reduce your ex-spouse's monthly payment by any amount. The SSA can pay benefits to multiple ex-spouses and a current spouse simultaneously on the same worker's earnings record, with no impact on the worker's own benefit.

Remarriage before age 60 generally terminates your eligibility for divorced spouse benefits. However, if that subsequent marriage ends by death, divorce, or annulment, you may reclaim benefits on your former spouse's record. For survivor benefits from a deceased ex-spouse, remarriage after age 60 (or age 50 if disabled) does not affect eligibility.

Yes. If your marriage lasted 10 or more years and you are at least age 60 (or 50 if disabled), you can receive 71.5% to 100% of your deceased ex-spouse's benefit amount depending on your claiming age. Full survivor benefits — 100% of the deceased's benefit — are available at your full retirement age. Remarriage after age 60 does not disqualify you.

The optimal claiming age depends on your financial situation. Claiming at 62 provides income sooner but permanently reduces benefits to about 32.5% of your ex-spouse's primary insurance amount. Waiting until full retirement age (67 for those born 1960+) yields the maximum 50%. Unlike personal retirement benefits, there is no additional increase for delaying past full retirement age.

Under current dual entitlement rules, the SSA calculates both your personal retirement benefit and your divorced spouse benefit, then pays whichever amount is higher — you cannot receive both. If your ex-spouse's 50% benefit exceeds your own, you receive your own benefit first plus a supplemental amount equaling the higher spousal benefit.

Apply online at ssa.gov, by phone at 800-772-1213, or at your local Florida Social Security office using Form SSA-2. You will need your birth certificate, marriage certificate, and your Florida Final Judgment of Dissolution of Marriage. If you do not have your ex-spouse's Social Security number, the SSA can locate it using their date and place of birth.