### Question
What does divorced wife mean?


### Answer
**Divorced wife** has the following meaning in *42 U.S.C. § 416*:

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

#### Citation:
  - *42 U.S.C. § 416*
  - Heading: **CHAPTER 7-SOCIAL SECURITY > SUBCHAPTER II-FEDERAL OLD-AGE, SURVIVORS, AND DISABILITY INSURANCE BENEFITS**

