Social Security Surviving Divorced Spouse Benefits
Managing Agency:
Program Description
Are you divorced from an ex-spouse who died? If so, you may qualify for benefits as their surviving divorced spouse.
Learn more on the Survivors Planner: If You’re the Worker’s Surviving Divorced Spouse page. You may also want to read the Survivors Planner: Benefits For Your Surviving Divorced Spouse page.
General Program Requirements
To qualify as a surviving divorced spouse, you must meet the conditions below:
- Be at least age 60.
- Were married for at least 10 years before the final divorce date.
- Be unmarried, unless the marriage can be disregarded.
- Be entitled to a lower Social Security benefit on your own work record.
Other terms and conditions may apply.
Application Process
Visit the Information You Need to Apply for Widow’s, Widower’s, or Surviving Divorced Spouse’s Benefits – Form SSA-10 page for details on how to apply.
If you want to apply for disability benefits as a survivor, call one of the phone numbers below to make an appointment.
To find out what other Social Security Administration (SSA) benefits you may qualify for, use the SSA Benefit Eligibility Screening Tool (BEST) on Benefits.gov. When you complete the questionnaire, you get a list of benefits to review. You can print this page for your records.
When you know which benefits you may apply for, click Apply for Social Security Benefits to apply online. You can also call the phone numbers below to learn more about SSA benefits or set up an appointment.
Program Contact Information
Visit the Social Security Contact Us page for to see all of our contact options, and to learn about our online and special services. We also offer free interpreter services.
To learn more about Social Security, visit our Publications page or call us:
- 1-800-772-1213
- TTY 1-800-325-0778



