divorce after 23 years, will I still be entitled to draw off my husbands social security if I DO NOT REMARRY.

Question

Lancaster, SC asked on February 8, 2016 in Divorce and Social Security for South Carolina

Marjorie Simmons · Answer

That's a good question: the Social Security Administration (SSA) has information online for divorced spouses: 
Retirement benefits: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/retire/divspouse.html 
Survivor's benefits: https://www.ssa.gov/planners/survivors/ifyou3.html 
 
For retirement benefits, the SSA says: 
If you are divorced, but your marriage lasted 10 years or longer, you can receive benefits on your ex-spouse's record (even if he or she has remarried) if: 
*  You are unmarried; 
*  You are age 62 or older; 
*  Your ex-spouse is entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits and 
*  The benefit you are entitled to receive based on your own work is less than the benefit you would receive based on your ex-spouse's work.  
 
Your benefit as a divorced spouse is equal to one-half of your ex-spouse's full retirement amount (or disability benefit) if you start receiving benefits at your full retirement age. The benefits do not include any delayed retirement credits your ex-spouse may receive. 
 
For survivor's benefits, the SSA says: 
If you are the divorced spouse of a worker who dies, you could get benefits just the same as a widow or widower, provided that your marriage lasted 10 years or more.

Q: divorce after 23 years, will I still be entitled to draw off my husbands social security if I DO NOT REMARRY.