Spousal Benefits

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Will a French pension impact a spousal and/or personal Social Security benefit?

Full question: Hello, Martha — my wife receives a Social Security check that’s based partly on her earnings ($500/month) and partly on a spousal benefit that brings her monthly payment up to half of mine. She is eligible for a small pension from France for work that she did before moving to the US. The…

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Can I switch from an ex-spousal benefit to my own benefit at 70?

Full question: Good morning. I am divorced, 66 years old with two disabled adult children that have lived with me all their lives. One has Autism, the other was injured at age 22 and is a parapalygic. Can I collect 1/2 of my ex-spouse’s Social Security Retirement while I continue working and change over to…

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Can I apply for ex-spousal benefits now and switch to my own at 70?

Full question: I am full retirement age and have been divorced for more than 10 years. My ex-husband and I have a disabled child (34 year old) that I care for and draws SSDI off of her father who is 70 years old. I have not applied for Social Security benefits, as I was wanting…

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Can I receive a survivor benefit from my ex-husband if I got remarried?

Full question: I’m 65, in dire financial shape (making work difficult since pandemic). I qualify for a bewildering smorgasborg, all but Survivor/Widow’s… It seems perilous for me to go in without better preparation. I think it would be different if I didn’t actually need this so badly. My ex’s earnings are much higher than mine…

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I am divorced and single. My ex-husband is remarried. Can I still collect Social Security based on his record?

Full question: I have been divorced from my 2nd husband for 10 years now and have not remarried. He, however, remarried 2 years ago. When I’m able to draw Social Security Retirement in 10 years, can I still draw off him or will I only be able to draw what I’ve paid in during the…

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Should I wait until age 70 to get my full benefit?

Full question: I’m remarried 4 years to my husband, age 72. He waited until 70 to begin his Social Security benefits, and is still working as a partner in a law firm. I just turned 69, still working as an independent life & health agent. I have not turned on Social Security benefits yet, and…

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