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IRMAA appeal after divorce
On Form SSA 44 this is divorce or annulment. We do not file. Social Security decides.
If you divorced or had a marriage annulled, the tax return Social Security used for IRMAA may still show married filing jointly. That return is often two years old. Your later returns may look different.
Form SSA 44 lists divorce or annulment as a qualifying life event. That does not mean the surcharge comes off. It means you may ask Social Security to use a more recent tax year that reflects the change. They decide.
This site is independent of SSA, CMS, and Medicare. We do not file for you. The official form and instructions are free on ssa.gov.
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What this event is
On Form SSA 44 the box is divorce or annulment. Use it when that event happened and your more recent income picture is different from the old joint return Social Security used.
Do not use this page if you are still married and filing jointly. A lower premium is not automatic after a split. Social Security still has to agree that a newer tax year should be used, and that the newer MAGI maps to a lower IRMAA tier.
How filing status fits
IRMAA follows the tax filing status on the return for the year Social Security is looking at. After a divorce, a later year may be filed as individual. That can change which IRMAA ladder applies. It can also change the MAGI number itself.
We do not give tax advice. If you are unsure which year or status to use on the form, the SSA 44 instructions and a tax professional are the right places to sort that out.
What Social Security lists as proof
These are SSA’s examples for this event, not a promise they will accept your file. Official instructions live on ssa.gov.
- A certified copy of the decree of divorce or annulment.
Official overview: ssa.gov/medicare/lower-irmaa. Official form: Form SSA 44 PDF.
Related life events
FAQ
Ready to see if this applies?
The free check is three screens. It does not ask for your Social Security number. You are not charged to see yes or no. If a packet applies, you can buy a filled Form SSA 44. You file it. Social Security decides.
Check IRMAA is independent of the Social Security Administration, CMS, and Medicare. This is not a government website. SSA decides whether to use more recent income. We do not file for you, represent you, or guarantee a lower premium. Dollar amounts on this site are estimates from published CMS brackets using the facts you entered. They are not a promise of savings.
Last updated August 27, 2026.