### Question
How is the "surviving divorced wife" defined?


### Answer
The term **surviving divorced wife** is defined in *42 U.S.C. § 416* as follows -

> a woman divorced from an individual who has died, but only if she had been married to the individual for a period of 10 years immediately before the date the divorce became effective

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 416*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 6-THE CHILDREN'S BUREAU > SUBCHAPTER II-FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS, AND DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS**

