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Divorce as an older adult and Social Security benefits

On Behalf of | Apr 7, 2020 | Family Law And Divorce

There are many critical issues that older people have to address before, during and after their divorce. Life changes in many ways when a marriage is brought to an end and these changes are often especially difficult later in life. Aside from issues involving children and the division of marital property, older adults have many other unique considerations, such as Social Security benefits. In fact, many people are able to receive benefits on their former spouse’s record, so long as certain conditions are met.

For starters, people become eligible to receive Social Security benefits when they reach the age of 62. Some people assume that filing for a divorce will disqualify them from receiving any Social Security benefits from their former spouse’s record. However, if a marriage lasted for at least 10 years, people are often able to obtain these critical benefits and move forward in their lives. Moreover, many people are able to gain access to Social Security survivor benefits after their former spouse passes away.

Social Security benefits are a lifeline for many older adults. Some are no longer able to work and they need this income to help with medical costs, bills and many other expenses that arise. This is just one issue that older adults must look into when bringing their marriage to an end. Unfortunately, some people do not realize that they are eligible to receive these benefits, which highlights the importance of careful research and planning with respect to the divorce process. Explore our website to read about other issues that affect older adults during a divorce.

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