Program Description
The Social Security Disabled Surviving Divorced Spouse Benefits are a federally funded program administered by the U.S. Social Security Administration (SSA). These benefits are paid to the disabled surviving divorced spouse of a worker who had earned enough Social Security credits.
General Program Requirements
In order to qualify for this benefit program, you must be divorced from a deceased spouse and meet the following requirements:
- Be at least age 50 but not yet age 60
- Have been married at least 10 years before the date the divorce became final
- Meet the disability related requirements
- Be unmarried, unless the marriage can be disregarded
- Not entitled to an equal or higher Social Security retirement benefit based on your own work.
Based on the information you gave, you do not qualify based on the disability requirements. If you were not certain about exactly when your disability began, you may want to discuss your situation with one of SSA’s representatives.
To see the listing of impairments that can qualify for disability, visit the "Adult Listing of Impairments" page. Even if your condition is not included in the listing, you still could get benefits. To find out more about how SSA decides if you are disabled, visit SSA’s Publications Home Page and review "Disability," Social Security Publication Number 05-10029.
Didn't find what you were looking for?
Try using our Benefit Finder questionnaire to view a list of benefit programs you may be eligible to receive.