I understand that I will qualify for Medicare when I turn 65 based on my ex-husband's info. What do I need to qualify?

Freqflyer, many, if not most, employees in the public sector do not pay into SS. The employing agency chooses whether they are in or out. If not in SS they have their own public pension program, like CALPERS, CA Public Employees Retirement System. The employees generally pay into their retirement program something equivalent to SS. Federal employees under the old PERS system did not pay into SS, they just got their federal pension. I switched to the newer FERS, Federal Employees Retirement System as I had plenty of quarters under SS covered employment. I get both a federal pension and SS, which together are about equivalent to a pension paid entirely under the old system for federal employees. Many teachers take a second job which can contribute to their earnings under SS. Determining their benefits under each program and their teachers pension program gets more complicated from there on, but that's the general idea.

Just curious why when you were a teacher that social security and Medicare wasn't taken out of your paycheck. Or were you an independent contractor... if that was the case, you would have been required to pay quarterly estimated income taxes.

My Mom [96] worked backed in the 1940's for a couple of years, got married and never returned to the outside workforce. She was able to get Medicare when she turned 65.

You should know where you got married and divorced, right? If you don't have the originals contact the county website and find out how to order certified copies. Did you keep your old tax returns which should have his SSN?. If not, try ordering a transcript of one of your old joint returns. A lesson to everyone, keep track of your legal documents.

Yes on the marriage license and divorce decree. Probably don't need his Social Security number. If you don't have either one, I think you can obtain the marriage license from the county in which you were married. (In the Chicago area, it would be from the County Clerk's office.) And the divorce decree from the state in which you were divorced.

Google "How can I get a copy of my marriage license Illinois" or whatever state you were married in. Look for a government site rather than the advertised ones that you have to pay a separate fee for. I'm sure the state/county has a fee, but it'll be less than the services that gather that information. Then Google the same for your divorce decree. Good luck!