If you are a divorced spouse, you can receive checks on your ex-spouse's Social Security record if you meet the following requirements:

1. You must have been married to your ex-spouse for at least 10 years.

2. You must be at least 62 years old.

3. You cannot be entitled to a higher Social Security check on your own work record.

4. You have to be currently unmarried.

5. Your ex-spouse must be receiving either Social Security Retirement or Disability checks.

 If your ex-spouse is at least age 62 or older and eligible for Social Security checks, but has not applied for them, you can receive "Independently Divorced Spouse's" checks if you meet the requirements above, and you have been divorced for at least two years.

If you remarry, your checks will end unless you marry someone who gets checks as a Divorced Spouse, Widow or Widower, Mother, Father, Parent or Disabled Adult Child.

Note: If you file for Divorced Spouse's checks when you are full retirement age or older, you do not have to file for your own Retirement check at that time.  You could then earn "Delayed Retirement Credits" on your own retirement record and increase your future Retirement check.  You can always switch to the higher Retirement check later.

You can file a disability application online at www.socialsecurity.gov or call the Toll free number, 1-800-772-1213 and schedule either an in-office appointment or a telephone appointment. You can visit the local office without an appointment, but you could experience a very long wait.

Expect the interview to last about 1-1 ½ hours. You can take some of the stress out of your interview by being well prepared. Have ready, the names and addresses of your doctors and hospitals, as well as the dates you first and last visited the doctors, and the dates of inpatient