Widowed at 62? Your Survivor Benefit Could Be $3,542/Month

Understanding when to claim survivor benefits vs your own retirement benefit can mean thousands more in lifetime income

The Details

You can claim survivor benefits while divorced if the marriage lasted 10+ years and you haven't remarried before 60. Many eligible divorced spouses never realize they qualify for benefits worth $200,000+ over retirement.

What this means for you

Retirement decisions compound — getting one of these details wrong can cost tens of thousands of dollars over a retirement. The good news: most of these mistakes are completely avoidable if you understand how the rule actually works.

Next step

If you want to see how this applies to your specific situation, take the free Retire Ready Score — a 2-minute assessment that scores your current plan across income, taxes, healthcare, and protection.