What marital status is required to claim divorce benefits?

To claim divorce benefits, an individual must be legally divorced from their spouse. This status is crucial because divorce benefits are specifically designed for those who have formally ended their marriage while retaining the eligibility to receive benefits based on their ex-spouse's work record.

Being divorced allows a person to access these benefits under certain conditions, such as having been married for at least 10 years, being at least 62 years old, and being unmarried at the time of applying for the benefits. This established legal status ensures that the individual has severed all financial and legal ties associated with the previous marriage, thus qualifying them for the support intended for divorced individuals.

Other statuses such as being married, separated, or widowed do not meet the specific legal requirements necessary for claiming divorce benefits, as those accords have different guidelines and entitlements under social security laws.