fpPathfinder

Helping Diligent Advisors Ensure They're On The Right Planning Path

Already a Member? Login
Need Help?
Refer Friends
GUIDES
All Guides
Categories
Client Meetings & Client Service Calendar
Client Meetings Client Service Calendar (Jan + Feb) Client Service Calendar (Mar + Apr) Client Service Calendar (May + Jun) Client Service Calendar (Jul + Aug) Client Service Calendar (Sep + Oct) Client Service Calendar (Nov + Dec)
IRAs & Retirement Plans
Traditional & Roth IRA Contributions Traditional & Roth IRA Distributions Inherited Traditional & Roth IRAs Roth Conversions Pensions 401(k) Plans SEP & SIMPLE IRAs
Non-Retirement Accounts & Assets
Brokerage Accounts Annuities 529 Accounts HSAs Rental Real Estate
Investment Review & Market Events
Investment Review Market Events
Working/Accumulation
Careers & Employment Business Owners & Self-Employment
Retirement/Decumulation
Preparing for Retirement Social Security Medicare RMDs
Tax Planning
Important Tax Concepts & Numbers Roth Conversions Capital Gains And Losses, Dividends, And Asset Sales Tax Returns Tax Payments & Pay Stub Review Basis Issues Stock Options, RSUs, And ESPP 1031 & 1035 Exchanges NUA QBI TCJA Sunset
Insurance Planning
Annuities Life Insurance Long-Term Care Insurance Health Insurance & Medicare Disability Insurance Property & Casualty Insurance
Estate Planning & Charitable Giving
Creating An Estate Plan Reviewing An Estate Plan Closing An Estate Creating A Charitable Giving Plan Charitable Giving Strategies
Cash Flow, Budgeting, And Debts
Cash Flow & Budgeting Debts & Mortgages
Important Life Events & Decisions
Buying & Selling A Home Buying A Vehicle Moving Marriage & Divorce Children Aging, Death, And Illness
College Planning & Student Loans
529 Accounts College Planning & Student Loans
New Laws
Secure Act 2.0 TCJA Sunset
Other
Other Guides
One-Click Downloads
Full List Of Guides
Guide Recommendation Tool
Guide Recommendation Tool
We know that The Social Security Fairness Act was signed into law on January 5th, 2025, and that it will affect the Government Pension Offset (GPO) and Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). While we know many of the details surrounding this law, certain details still have not been clarified. We have logged this as part of our Guide Audit Process and will be prepared to update this guide as soon as more updates are provided by the SSA. Click on the Learn More button for an official link to track those updates.
Learn More
Go Back
Category:
Retirement/Decumulation
Updated

Social Security Benefit Rules For Divorced Spouses

Updated 06/01/2025

Am I Eligible For Social Security Benefits If I Have Been Divorced?

Social Security benefits can be confusing for a divorced client. There are several important and unique issues that must be considered before filing a claim to collect Social Security benefits.

To help make the analysis easier, we have created the “Am I Eligible For Social Security Benefits If I Have Been Divorced?” flowchart. It addresses these common Social Security issues that arise for clients who have experienced a divorce, including:

  • How the length of a marriage affects eligibility
  • Impact of multiple divorces
  • How the time since the divorce occurred affects eligibility
  • Age that benefits can be collected
  • Possible reduction in benefits if collected before Full Retirement Age
  • Impact of a remarriage
Related Guides
Social Security Disability Benefit Rules
Category: Retirement/Decumulation
Social Security Benefit Rules For Surviving Spouses
Category: Retirement/Decumulation
Social Security Benefit Rules For Spouses
Category: Retirement/Decumulation
Social Security Benefit Reduction Rules
Category: Retirement/Decumulation
Social Security Retirement Benefit Issues
Category: Retirement/Decumulation
Social Security Fairness Act Rules
Category: Retirement/Decumulation

What Customers Are Saying About Us

Hundreds of other advisors are actively using fpPathfinder. Read what those lovely people have to say about us.
“I love these checklists and flowcharts! They are very useful and helpful in making sure I am covering all (or at least most) points regarding a specific topic.”
— Michael, an advisor in Pennsylvania
“I love fpPathfinder. I use it nearly every day. Clients think it is very clear and easy to understand and it has increased our credibility.”
— An advisor in Utah
“It's hands-down the best collection of client-facing resources I've found anywhere. The checklists are amazing too, to make sure I'm not forgetting anything in a review.”
— An advisor in Kentucky
“I love it! I find it very helpful. It's a great client value add.”
— Phillip, an advisor in North Carolina
“It is very helpful for us when we have a client in and we have an issue at hand. Walking through the checklist helps us big time.”
— William, an advisor In Massachusetts
“You are making all of our lives easier...and more importantly, our clients.”
— Jeff, an advisor in California
“I just met with a client who had a question regarding her eligibility for Social Security benefits. We went through the flowcharts answering each question and following the lines. She looked at me and said 'This is great, it was so much easier to use this than trying to go through all the literature that Social Security offers. Thank you so much.'”
— Ben G, an advisor in Wisconsin
Become a Member

Sign Up to Receive Updates

Join our mailing list to be updated as we release new flowcharts and checklists that might be of interest.
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.
Close