It appears that you confuse spousal benefits with survival benefits. Although，in both cases, the benefits to current and divorced spouses are the same!
While spousal benefits are capped at 50% of your spouse's benefit amount, survivor benefits are not. If you're widowed, you're eligible to receive the full amount of your late spouse's benefit, if you've reached full retirement age. The same is true if you are divorced and your ex-spouse has died.
Eligible spouses and ex-spouses can receive up to 100 percent of the late beneficiary's monthly Social Security payment, if they have reached full retirement age, or FRA. For people claiming survivor benefits, FRA is currently 66. It will increase to 66 and 2 months for people born in 1957 and rise incrementally to 67 for people born in 1962 and after.
below is the link from ssa.gov. It does not differentiate between current and divorced spouses.
https://faq.ssa.gov/en-US/Topic/article/KA-02083
When you die, members of your family could be eligible for benefits based on your earnings. You and your children also may be able to get benefits if your deceased spouse or former spouse worked long enough under Social Security.
Who can get survivors benefits?
Widows and Widowers
A widow or widower can receive benefits:
- At age 60 or older.
- At age 50 or older if disabled.
- At any age if they take care of a child of the deceased who is younger than age 16 or disabled.
Divorced Widows and Widowers
A divorced widow or widower can receive benefits:
- At age 60 or older if the marriage to the deceased lasted at least 10 years.
