Under what condition can a divorced spouse receive benefits?

A divorced spouse can receive benefits if the marriage lasted at least 10 years and they are eligible for benefits. This requirement ensures that the individual has had a significant duration of marriage to qualify for benefits based on their ex-spouse’s work record.

In this scenario, being eligible for benefits often means that the divorced spouse must not be currently married, or if they are remarried, it does not affect their eligibility if the new marriage occurred after the divorce. Furthermore, qualifications can include reaching a certain age—typically 62 years—to access the benefits.

Overall, the combination of the minimum duration of marriage and eligibility criteria reflect the Social Security Administration’s guidelines for divorced spouses to ensure they receive the financial support they may require based on their ex-spouse’s contributions to Social Security.