Divorced Spouse Benefits and the 2027 COLA
The eligibility rules, precisely
| Requirement | Rule |
|---|---|
| Length of marriage | At least 10 years before the divorce became final |
| Your age | 62 or older |
| Your marital status | Currently unmarried (remarriage generally ends a divorced-spouse benefit; a later divorce or annulment can restore it) |
| Your ex-spouse | Entitled to retirement benefits — or, if you have been divorced at least 2 years and your ex is 62+, merely eligible ("independently entitled") |
| Amount | Up to 50% of your ex's PIA at your full retirement age; 32.5% if claimed at 62 (FRA 67) |
If you were married to more than one person for 10+ years, you can be entitled on more than one record — the SSA pays on the one that produces the highest benefit, and you never have to choose permanently: entitlement is re-evaluated as circumstances change. A divorced surviving spouse follows the survivors rules instead (age 60, and remarriage at or after 60 does not end it) — see the survivors calculator.
How the COLA reaches a divorced spouse
The mechanics are identical to a current spouse's: the SSA increases your former spouse's PIA by 3.6%, and your benefit — a percentage of that PIA — rises with it, in January 2027, automatically. Three consequences worth knowing:
Your ex's claiming choices don't change your percentage. Your benefit is figured from their PIA, not their actual check — their early claiming does not shrink your base, and their delayed credits do not enlarge it.
Your claim is invisible to your ex. It does not reduce their benefit, does not count against their family maximum, and requires no contact or consent.
The COLA accrued even before you claim. PIAs are COLA-adjusted from the worker's age 62 onward, so years of adjustments are already inside the PIA whenever you file. Run your expected amount on the spousal COLA calculator — the math is the same.
Frequently asked questions
Do divorced-spouse benefits get the 2027 COLA?
Yes — the same 3.6%. A divorced-spouse benefit is based on your former spouse's primary insurance amount, and the COLA applied to that PIA raises divorced-spouse benefits exactly as it raises spousal benefits.
What are the rules for a divorced-spouse benefit?
The marriage must have lasted at least 10 years; you must be at least 62 and currently unmarried; and your former spouse must be entitled to (or, under the independent-entitlement rule, merely eligible for) retirement benefits. At your full retirement age the benefit can reach 50% of your ex-spouse's PIA.
Does my ex-spouse have to be collecting for me to claim?
Not if you have been divorced for at least two years and your ex is at least 62 — you can be 'independently entitled' on their record even if they have not claimed. If the divorce is more recent, your ex generally must be receiving benefits (or have been entitled and suspended under older rules) for your benefit to be payable.
Does my claiming affect my ex-spouse's benefit?
No. A divorced-spouse benefit does not reduce your former spouse's own benefit, does not count against their family maximum, and your ex is not notified and has no say in it. Benefits paid to a divorced spouse are entirely separate.
Sources: SSA rules for divorced-spouse benefits (10-year marriage, independent entitlement); SSA COLA application to PIA.