Breaking up can be a heartache or a new start depending on who you ask. But whether the split from your ex-spouse was messy or amicable, did you know it can impact your retirement?

Specifically, you can claim Social Security benefits based off your ex’s income level. As explained here by NerdWallet’s Liz Weston by way of KRQE, this is a rule that most people are unaware of. But by not taking advantage, some people lose tens of thousands of dollars per year.

Your marriage had to have lasted a decade or more to qualify. There are different rules depending on whether your ex is alive or deceased. Also the amount you get won’t impact an ex’s amount, the amount their dependents receive, or the amount your current spouse receives.

Will this news impact your Social Security payment? We hope you found it useful. For more tips like this, follow NORA on Facebook and Twitter.