Social Security: Essential Rules for Women and Divorcees (Ep. 85)
Understanding Social Security can feel complicated, especially when life events like divorce or widowhood come into play.
In this episode, I join Karen Covy on her podcast, Off The Fence, to walk through the rules that often matter most for women.
We discuss how full retirement age works, how spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits are determined, and what to know about the 10-year marriage rule. Our conversation also covers the Social Security Fairness Act and how it affects certain workers with pensions.
Together, we outline key considerations that can help listeners better understand their options when planning for future income.
Key Topics:
- How full retirement age determines your benefit amount and why this number is critical to every Social Security decision
- The difference between spousal, ex-spousal, and survivor benefits, and how remarriage affects your eligibility
- The 10-year marriage rule for divorced individuals, and what documentation you need to claim benefits
- How the Social Security Fairness Act eliminated penalties that primarily affected women with pensions
- Strategic timing considerations when you’re still working and approaching retirement age
- And more!
Next week, Karen will be joining me on the Simply Retirement Podcast to discuss how women can move forward with strength and strategy after divorce. Make sure you’re subscribed so you don’t miss it.
Resources:
Connect with Eric Blake:
- www.TheSimplyRetirementPodcast.com
- Join the Simply Retirement Newsletter
- Ask a Question or Suggest a Topic for the Podcast
- Blake Wealth Management
- YouTube
Connect with Karen Covy:
- LinkedIn: Karen Covy
- Website: Karen Covy
- Facebook: Karen Covy
- Instagram: @karencovylawyer
- X: Karen Covy
- YouTube: Karen Covy
- TikTok: Karen Covy
About our Guest:
Karen Covy is a Divorce Coach, Lawyer, Mediator, Author, Speaker, and Podcaster. She coaches busy professionals and business owners all over the world to make clear, confident decisions about their most important relationships. She also helps them navigate through divorce with less conflict, unnecessary expense, and needless drama so that they can create the life they truly desire sooner rather than later. Karen is the author of When Happily Ever After Ends: How to Survive Your Divorce Emotionally, Financially, and Legally. She is also the creator of the online divorce programs, The Divorce Road Map 3.0 and How to Successfully Mediate Your Divorce, as well as the host of the podcast, Off the Fence: Mastering Decision-Making Divorce and More.
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