Social Security benefits and divorce

Based on your statements, it is unlikely the first wife would qualify due to the short term of the marriage.

If you are divorced, your ex-spouse can receive benefits based on your record (even if you have remarried) if:

• Your marriage lasted 10 years or longer;

• Your ex-spouse is unmarried;
• Your ex-spouse is age 62 or older;
• The benefit that your ex-spouse is entitled to receive based on his or her own work is less than the benefit he or she would receive based on your work; and
• You are entitled to Social Security retirement or disability benefits.