If you were a stay-at-home parent or had little or no work history during the marriage, then you may not qualify for Social Security benefits under your work history.  If that is you, then you should determine if you could qualify for partial benefits under your former spouse’s work history.  This should be investigated during the divorce process but can be done even after your divorce.  Your benefits eligibility will depend on several factors including your birth year, the age at which you start claiming benefits, the length of your marriage, etc.  Your monthly Social Security benefit can be an important consideration in your divorce settlement and should not be ignored when divorcing over the age of 50.