DEAR BRUCE: I was told that I could get my ex-husband's Social Security benefits. We were married for 33 years and divorced. He remarried and moved to Florida. Sad to report he was in a home with Alzheimer's and just recently passed away from heart failure. He was 63. We have two grown children and I have never remarried. He, on the other hand, did remarry, but they were married only nine years. I am currently employed full-time and will be 61 soon. -- J.R., via e-mail

DEAR J.R.: You should contact the Social Security Administration, since you are still not old enough to collect under his account. Furthermore, you will be required to collect under your own first and then his as a secondary claim. That having been observed, you were married for more than 10 years, and the fact that your divorce has no impact on your ability to claim against your account. Further, his second wife can claim as well even though they were only married nine years and she was the wife at his demise. This should not be all that complicated. You might even be able to get it done in writing. If it were me I would make an appointment with the local Social Security office and everything will be explained to you. You are eligible to collect on his account, but only after your own earnings have been taken into account.