Domestic Diversions

How to estimate your Social Security benefits: divorced spouses, married couples, single persons

The Social Security Administration’s new retirement estimator taps into your actual earnings history to provide more accurate estimates of benefits. It also allows for alternative future income scenarios.

The estimator explains (excerpt):

How the Retirement Estimator Works

The Retirement Estimator produces estimates that are based on your actual Social Security earnings record. Retirement estimates are just that, estimates. They will vary slightly from the actual benefit you may receive in the future because:
* Your Social Security earnings record is constantly being updated;
* Our calculators use different parameters and assumptions (e.g., different stop work ages, future earnings projections, etc.); and
* Your actual future benefit will be adjusted for inflation.

Who Can Use the Retirement Estimator

You can use the Retirement Estimator if:
* You are not currently receiving benefits on your own Social Security record;
* You are not a Medicare beneficiary;
* You have enough Social Security credits at this time to qualify for benefits; and
* You are not eligible for a Pension Based on Work Not Covered By Social Security.

3 thoughts on “How to estimate your Social Security benefits: divorced spouses, married couples, single persons

  1. Kysa Crusco

    What a great post, thank you for the tip. This is a good tool for families trying to figure out their financial futures in different households.

  2. amy silvermann

    How do I determine my benefits as a soon to be divorced spouse.
    I am on social security disability. Does that eliminate any other benefits?

  3. fran

    i am a divorced woman who within this year am eligible for ss benefits…i believe being married for over 10 yrs i thought i might be entitled to my exhusbands which is twice as much as mine…is this possible….thanks fran

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