Feb
02
2011
By Guest (not verified)
I am widowed and collecting social security. Am I intitled to any compensation from my ex-husband to whom I was married 18 years and is still alive?.
Widow and survivor benefits from first marriage
If you remarry, you generally cannot collect benefits on your former spouse's record unless your later marriage ends (whether by death, divorce or annulment). So it may be possible to receive benefits based on the first husband's work record.
However, Social Security generally pays only the highest benefit -- not "twice" the benefit. So this may be worth exploring especially if the first husband had a significantly higher earnings record or worked much longer.
http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/divspouse.htm