#SocialSecurityFraud #DivorceSettlement #ExHusbandIssues
Hey everyone! 👋 Have you ever heard of someone trying to claim their ex spouse’s social security benefits after getting divorced? Well, my mom recently found herself in this tricky situation and I could really use some advice.
Here’s the scoop: my mom is turning 72 soon and decided to look into claiming her benefits. However, she was shocked to learn that her ex husband, who has remarried TWICE and now lives in Europe, was trying to claim her benefits. 😱
Thankfully, the social security office didn’t let him get away with it and asked for proof of divorce, which she promptly provided. But now, she’s worried he might try again in the future. 😬
Do you have any tips or suggestions on how she can protect herself and prevent her ex from trying to claim her benefits again? She’s eager to make sure her hard-earned money stays in her pocket where it belongs.
Your insights would be greatly appreciated! 🙏 Let’s help my mom out together. #HelpNeeded
EDIT: Thanks for all the helpful responses! It seems like ensuring the social security office has all the necessary documentation is key to preventing any future attempts by her ex.
Your mother’s benefits won’t be reduced if he gets the spousal benefit.
Edit* This will help. https://creativeplanning.com/international/insights/financial-planning/foreign-spouse-social-security/
No, they were married over 10 years. If he gets divorced again he is entitled to benefits under her.
This will not, in any way affect her benefits. They were married for 10 years, he is entitled to claim off her account.
He will only get 50% of her benefit, and cannot collect from more than one source, like another wife, or his own.
When my Mom went to apply for SSI, they looked at both of her marriages. Both marriages were 15 years; divorced 1st, 2 nd passed away. 2nd husband was a minister who lived what he preached and gave more back to communities than he ever took.
1st husband was an abusive POS but had higher contributions. She gets her SSI based on POS. We laugh, knowing how much that would have upset him.
They’re not *her* benefits. They are his, as a former spouse.
Why has your mom waited until 72 to claim her benefit? She’s lost tens of thousands of dollars by doing that. There is no advantge to waiting past 70 to claim, just lost money.
When she applies now, she can get paid for six months retroactively. But the other 18 months of payments are lost.
Your mother should have claimed two years ago. There is absolutely no reason to wait after age 70 as benefits max out at that age. Paying in more past age 70 does nothing for your overall numbers.
And, her husband won’t be able to take anything from her. He may collect as well based on their marriage (I don’t know), but a spouse’s collection of benefits doesn’t reduce your benefits. He may or may not be entitled to 50% of what she is going to get. That is his problem to work out.