Key Points
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You must be married for at least 10 years to continue receiving spousal benefits after a divorce.
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Remarriage will render you ineligible to claim a spousal benefit on your ex’s record.
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You must notify the Social Security Administration promptly of the divorce and any other relevant changes.
You expect financial changes when you’re going through a divorce, but that doesn’t mean you were prepared for your spousal Social Security benefits to suddenly stop. This is frustrating at best, and it could be a serious problem for you if you were counting on those benefits to pay your monthly bills.
Fixing the problem first requires understanding why it happened. Here are four reasons your spousal benefits may stop after you get a divorce, and what you can do to fix them.
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1. You weren’t married for at least 10 years
To claim a spousal Social Security benefit, you must either be currently married or have been married to your ex for at least 10 years before divorcing. If you divorce before hitting the 10-year mark, you’ll no longer be eligible to claim on your ex’s work record.
You’ll still be able to claim a retirement benefit on your own work record, though, assuming you’re eligible for one. Contact the Social Security Administration if you’re not sure or to learn how to apply.
2. You remarry
Remarriage renders you ineligible to claim a spousal Social Security benefit on your ex’s work record. However, you’ll become eligible to claim on your new spouse’s work record if they’re currently receiving retirement benefits.
Your ex’s remarriage won’t affect your ability to claim spousal benefits on their work record. You and their new spouse may both receive checks at the same time.
3. You fail to notify the Social Security Administration of key changes
Divorce often brings other meaningful changes that could affect your benefits, such as a name change, a new job, or a change in bank accounts. You need to keep the Social Security Administration in the loop about these changes, or there could be delays with your benefits.
Notify the Social Security Administration of these changes no later than the 10th day of the month after they occur. For example, if your divorce is finalized in June, you’ll need to let the Social Security Administration know no later than July 10, 2026.
4. Your retirement benefit becomes worth more than your spousal benefit
The Social Security Administration automatically gives you the larger of your own retirement benefit or your spousal benefit. If your spousal benefit was only slightly larger than your retirement benefit, and you return to work after your divorce, it’s possible that your retirement benefit could increase in the future, making it worth more than your spousal benefit.
In that case, the Social Security Administration may switch you to a retirement benefit. You can always reach out if you have questions about how much each of your benefits is worth or which one is worth more to you.
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