When one begins the process of divorce, there are so many immediate consequences to consider that anything beyond that may be easily overlooked. The truth is that divorce may affect one financially even into retirement years. Whether male or female, California residents may need to look at the long-range forecast when considering divorce settlements.
The rules around Social Security benefits for divorced spouses is complicated, and there is no one-size-fits-all solution. Variables such as the earnings record of both parties will affect how much benefit one is entitled to claim. The age at which one has divorced can have a bearing upon how soon benefits may be claimed, and the duration of the marriage can also have an impact upon this.
Remarriage can also affect the benefits an ex-spouse is entitled to receive. If the ex-spouse receiving the benefits from a former spouse remarries, then he or she is no longer eligible to receive benefits from the former spouse until the new marriage ends. While it may be possible for one to claim the retirement Social Security benefits from the age of 62, there may be greater benefits in waiting until full retirement age. Any other income one derives from other sources will also have a bearing upon benefit entitlement.
With all of the negotiations that divorce proceedings require, it would be natural for California residents to feel overwhelmed by the idea of forward planning. Seeking professional advice that is appropriate to one’s own circumstances is the best way forward. In this manner, it may be possible to ease the burden of worry over future finances.
Source: desmoinesregister.com, “How does divorce affect Social Security retirement benefits?“, Frank Mokosak, June 19, 2015
