A divorce is not just about the dissolution of a marriage. Whether partners divorce in Texas or across the country, they all face a variety of issues. Some of them are short-term, such as which spouse will receive the house and how custody arrangements will be made. However, other considerations will not come to the forefront until later, such as the possibility of claiming Social Security benefits from an ex-spouse’s work records.
For instance, in some cases, it may be acceptable for a divorced partner, such as the ex-wife, to receive Social Security benefits after she reaches a certain age. Even though she is now divorced from her once-husband, it does not matter. With that being said, there are other factors that do come into play.
One such factor is how much the ex-wife currently is making. If her wages rise above a certain income threshold, she could wind up paying quite a bit back into Social Security if she tries to make a claim on her ex-husband’s work record before she is 66. Thus, she would be wise to work with professionals to help her understand her options before sending in any claims.
As those who have been through a divorce in Texas often come to realize, they may still be tethered in other ways long after their marriage has been legally severed. This is one of the reasons it is essential that every divorcing individual work with financial and legal representatives who are well-versed in the divorce process. Partnering with someone who has extensive knowledge of the long-term divorce ramifications will alleviate questions and potential stress down the road.
Source: USA Today, “Social Security claiming strategy for divorced working woman“, Robert Powell, July 26, 2015
