เกิดอะไรขึ้นกับสิทธิประโยชน์ประกันสังคมของคุณ หากอดีตคู่สมรสของคุณเรียกร้องสิทธิประโยชน์คู่สมรส?

Key Points

While your ex-spouse can claim spousal benefits based on your work record, it won’t affect your own benefits.

A new spouse can claim spousal benefits, even if your ex is claiming them.

No one’s benefits are reduced because an ex decides to make a claim.

• The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook ›

Divorce is complicated enough without having to worry about how it might affect your Social Security benefits down the road. If you're wondering whether an ex-spouse can claim spousal benefits based on your work record, the answer is yes. However, there's nothing to worry about. Social Security spousal benefits were designed to support all eligible spouses and ex-spouses without penalizing you as the primary beneficiary whose work record is used.

Here, we straighten out any potential misconceptions and help you determine how spousal benefits come into play following a divorce.

Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an "Indispensable Monopoly" providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »

Will your Social Security benefits be affected if your ex-spouse claims on your record?

The short answer is no. If an ex-spouse (or two or three ex-spouses) claim Social Security spousal benefits based on your work record, it will have no effect on your benefits. In fact, the Social Security Administration (SSA) won't even contact you to let you know the claim has been filed.

If you're remarried and your new spouse also plans to claim benefits based on your work record, an ex-spouse making the same claim won't affect the new spouse's claim, either.

In other words, there's nothing to worry about.

Eligibility requirements for an ex-spouse to claim

To claim benefits based on your work record, your ex-spouse must meet these requirements:

• You and your ex-spouse must have been married for at least 10 consecutive years and divorced for at least two years. (Your ex can file for spousal benefits within that two-year period if you've already begun receiving benefits.)
• Your ex must be currently unmarried.
• Your ex must be at least 62 years old -- though claiming before their full retirement age (FRA) will permanently reduce their monthly benefits.
• The benefit they’re claiming based on your work record must be higher than the benefit based on their own work record.

How much they're eligible to receive

Just as if they were still married to you, an ex-spouse is eligible to receive up to 50% of the amount you're scheduled to receive at FRA (around 67 for most Americans). This is true regardless of when you claim benefits on your own. For example, if you're scheduled to receive $3,000 per month at FRA, your ex is eligible for up to $1,500 if they wait until their FRA to make the claim.

The bottom line is this: An ex-spouse can claim benefits based on your record without any effect on the benefits you or a new spouse receives. Think of it as one less thing you must worry about as you plan for retirement.

The $23,760 Social Security bonus most retirees completely overlook

If you're like most Americans, you're a few years (or more) behind on your retirement savings. But a handful of little-known "Social Security secrets" could help ensure a boost in your retirement income.

One easy trick could pay you as much as $23,760 more... each year! Once you learn how to maximize your Social Security benefits, we think you could retire confidently with the peace of mind we're all after. Join Stock Advisor to learn more about these strategies.

View the "Social Security secrets" »

The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.