1 You also must be divorced for at least two years (unless you were already eligible for spousal benefits at the time of divorce).
2 If you earned a government/teacher pension while not paying into Social Security, a spousal or survivor benefit could be reduced (even to zero). Read more here.
Sources: BlackRock; Social Security Administration. Please see the Social Security Administration’s website at www.ssa.gov for more information, restrictions and limitations about Social Security benefits.
The above commentary is based on Social Security laws in effect as of June 2014. Congress has made changes to the laws in the past, and can do so at any time in the future.
This material is provided for educational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice. The information contained herein is based on current tax laws, which may change in the future. BlackRock cannot be held responsible for any direct or incidental loss resulting from applying any of the information provided in this publication or from any other source mentioned. The information provided in these materials does not constitute any legal, tax or accounting advice. Please consult with a qualified professional for this type of advice.
This article was written by BlackRock Managing Director Rob Kron.