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Reaping the benefits of a divorce in North Carolina

On Behalf of | Jul 28, 2020 | Uncategorized

Social security comes in handy for thousands of retired residents of North Carolina, both married and unmarried. Although having alternative revenue streams in retirement is good, some people rely heavily on Social Security. Therefore, they should make sure they receive as much as they have a right to.

Divorce might be inevitable in some situations, and while the process of separating from a spouse is stressful, it might have a silver lining. Some people may receive Social Security benefits based on a spouse’s work record even without having a formal job their entire life.

Just like married couples are entitled to Social Security benefits, divorcees may also be entitled to these benefits based on their ex-spouse’s work record. However, to reap those benefits, the divorced person must meet some requirements. For instance, they must have been married for at least 10 years. The divorced person seeking the benefits should not be currently married although they can claim the benefits if their ex-spouse has remarried.

In addition, to be eligible for benefits based on an ex-spouse’s work record, the person seeking the benefits has to show that the benefits they receive based on their work are less compared to what they would receive based on their ex-spouse’s income. An eligible divorcee may receive up to 50% of the amount their spouse is entitled to. If the person is entitled to benefits based on their own work record, they will first receive their benefit amount followed by the divorce benefits.

Some people have no idea that they are entitled to divorce benefits are are thus not enjoying them. However, with an experienced attorney, divorcees may be adequately enlightened about the extra benefits they are entitled to. The attorney may also advise them on the best channels to use to follow up on the matter.