Beneficary question.

[AndreaR911460]

Hi. My mother's husband started collecting her social security after she died 6 years ago.

Recently a previous husband she is divorced from 50 years ago is now trying to file for 1/2 her social security benefits as they were married greater than 10 years. Can he collect without interfering with the widowed spouses collection? Are they both eligible?

Thank you.

[GailL1]

Yes - as long as all the eligibility criteria is met and the Divorced Surviving Spouses’ benefit (their own benefit) is less than what they would be getting under the Divorced Surviving Spouses benefit.   

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf 

SEE PAGE 3 

[AndreaR911460]

Thank you very much!