The Earnings Rebound: How Women’s Income Actually Changes After Divorce

THE OUTGROWN MARRIAGE • April 20, 2026

Last reviewed: June 2026 by Annie Wright, LMFT

In short: Women’s income often rebounds significantly within three to five years of divorce, driven by increased workforce participation and the removal of implicit career penalties from an unequal domestic arrangement.

Opening Sensory Scene: Meet Talia

The early morning sun spills through the half-open blinds, casting slats of golden light across Talia’s kitchen table. She’s seated there, a warm cup of coffee steaming beside her laptop, the faint aroma of cinnamon from yesterday’s baking still lingering in the air. Outside, the city hums softly. Distant traffic, the occasional bird chirp, and the rhythm of daily life unfurling. Talia’s fingers hover momentarily above the keyboard, a subtle tension beneath her calm exterior. Today marks exactly one year since her divorce was finalized.

Talia remembers the swirl of emotions that consumed her then: grief, relief, fear, and a strange sense of cautious hope. She recalls nights spent wondering how she’d manage financially, whether she’d ever regain stability, and if her career could bear the weight of this upheaval. Now, as she drafts her quarterly report, she feels a quiet but undeniable shift. Her earnings have increased by nearly 40% compared to the prior year. It’s not just a number on a page. It’s a symbol of regained autonomy, a testament to resilience forged in the crucible of change.

Her story isn’t unique, yet it’s often overshadowed by stereotypes that paint divorce as a financial dead end for women. What many don’t see are the subtle, complex ways women like Talia rebuild and even thrive after divorce. This post will take you deep into the data and lived experience behind the “earnings rebound”. A phenomenon that challenges myths and invites us to rethink what financial futures post-divorce can look like.

What Is The Earnings Rebound?

Before diving deeper, let’s clarify what we mean by the “earnings rebound.” At its core, the earnings rebound refers to the observed increase in women’s income following divorce, often substantial and sustained over time. This phenomenon contrasts sharply with the common assumption that divorce leaves women permanently worse off financially.

Definition Box #1: Earnings Rebound

*The earnings rebound is the measurable increase in a woman’s labor income after her divorce, typically occurring within the first year and potentially continuing for decades, especially among those who do not remarry.*

This rebound is not simply a short-term boost. Research has demonstrated that for many women, earnings don’t just bounce back to pre-divorce levels. They often surpass them. This can reflect a variety of factors: an increase in labor force participation, shifts into higher-paying jobs or careers, enhanced work hours, or a renewed focus on financial independence.

It’s important to approach this topic with nuance. The earnings rebound does not erase the emotional and logistical challenges divorce entails. Nor does it mean that all women experience the same financial gains or that the transition is easy. Instead, it illuminates a path of resilience and transformation that may begin in the financial realm but intertwines deeply with personal growth and identity reformation.

Understanding the earnings rebound also requires situating it within historical and social contexts. For example, the Boston College CRR study, which forms a cornerstone of this discussion, examined women who divorced in the 1970s. A period marked by evolving gender roles, increasing female labor force participation, but also significant structural barriers. The sustained increase in earnings observed in this cohort offers both hope and insight into the long-term financial trajectories of divorced women.

In the sections ahead, we’ll explore this study’s findings, delve into why and how earnings increase after divorce, and discuss the clinical implications for supporting women through these financial and emotional transitions. But first, let’s ground ourselves in Talia’s lived example. A reminder that behind every statistic is a woman reclaiming her story.

The Clinical Science of Perfectionism

Perfectionism is more than just a personality quirk; it’s a complex psychological construct that has been extensively studied in clinical research. Understanding its clinical science helps us recognize why it can feel so consuming, especially for driven women. At its core, perfectionism involves setting excessively high standards and being overly critical of oneself when those standards aren’t met. This isn’t simply about striving for excellence, it’s about a relentless inner voice that insists nothing less than flawless is acceptable.

What Is Perfectionism?

Definition Box #2: Perfectionism
Perfectionism is defined as a multidimensional personality disposition characterized by the setting of excessively high performance standards, accompanied by overly critical self-evaluations and concerns regarding others’ evaluations. It’s often divided into two main types: *adaptive* (or positive) perfectionism, which can motivate achievement, and *maladaptive* (or negative) perfectionism, which is associated with distress and dysfunction.

The Boston College Center for Retirement Research highlights that perfectionism isn’t just a psychological trait but can also impact physical health and longevity. Chronic stress stemming from perfectionistic tendencies can lead to increased risk for cardiovascular disease and other stress-related illnesses. This research underscores how deeply perfectionism can permeate our bodies, not just our minds.

Peggy Drexler, PhD, a clinical psychologist and author, emphasizes that perfectionism is rooted in fear, fear of failure, rejection, and not being enough. In her work, Drexler explains that perfectionism often masks deeper vulnerabilities and unmet emotional needs. It’s not simply about being perfect; it’s about protecting the self from perceived threats to worthiness.

The Neurobiology Behind Perfectionism

From a neurobiological perspective, perfectionism involves heightened activity in brain regions responsible for error detection, self-monitoring, and emotional regulation. The anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), for example, is often hyperactive in perfectionists, leading to an amplified response to mistakes or perceived failures. This means that when you make an error, your brain lights up with a kind of alarm system that can feel overwhelming and difficult to silence.

Moreover, perfectionism is linked to dysregulation in the limbic system, particularly the amygdala, which processes fear and anxiety. This neural pathway explains why perfectionistic tendencies often coexist with anxiety disorders and depressive symptoms. The emotional intensity that perfectionists experience is not a choice; it’s a neurobiological reality that demands compassionate understanding.

Perfectionism and Mental Health

Clinically, perfectionism is recognized as a transdiagnostic risk factor, meaning it contributes to the development and maintenance of multiple mental health conditions. It’s strongly associated with anxiety disorders, depression, obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and eating disorders. For driven women, who often juggle multiple roles and expectations, perfectionism can exacerbate stress and lead to burnout.

Research shows that maladaptive perfectionism involves a cycle of setting unattainable goals, experiencing failure or perceived failure, engaging in harsh self-criticism, and then attempting to compensate by working harder. This cycle is exhausting and unsustainable. It also creates a paradox where success is never fully satisfying because the internal critic remains unsatisfied.

Why Perfectionism Persists

Perfectionism often persists because it’s reinforced by external validation and internal belief systems. Society tends to reward perfectionistic behaviors, being the best at work, maintaining a flawless appearance, or managing all responsibilities flawlessly. For driven women, these messages are amplified: you’re told to “lean in,” “have it all,” and never show vulnerability.

Clinically, I see many women caught in this trap, feeling they must prove their worth through perfection. This perfectionism is not a failure of character but a learned survival strategy that once served a purpose. Understanding this helps us approach perfectionism with empathy rather than judgment.

How Perfectionism Shows Up in Driven Women

Perfectionism takes on unique shapes and forms in the lives of driven women. It’s not just about wanting to do well; it’s about crafting an identity around achievement, control, and the avoidance of failure at all costs. I want to share a vignette that illustrates how perfectionism can infiltrate daily life, relationships, and self-worth.

Vignette #1: Isabel’s Story

Isabel is a 34-year-old marketing director at a fast-growing tech company. She’s ambitious, articulate, and deeply committed to excellence. On paper, Isabel’s life looks enviable, a thriving career, a supportive partner, and a close-knit group of friends. But inside, she battles an incessant voice telling her she’s never quite enough.

Isabel’s perfectionism shows up in subtle and overt ways. At work, she spends hours revising presentations, obsessing over every word and design detail. She’s terrified of making mistakes in meetings and often rereads emails multiple times before sending. Despite her success, Isabel experiences intense anxiety before performance reviews, worrying she’ll be exposed as a fraud.

At home, Isabel’s perfectionism manifests as an unyielding need to keep everything “just right.” She feels responsible for maintaining a spotless apartment, preparing perfect meals, and organizing social events flawlessly. When any of these tasks don’t meet her standards, she feels a deep sense of shame and fears judgment from her partner and friends.

The emotional toll is significant. Isabel experiences frequent mood swings, from elated pride when she achieves a goal to crushing self-criticism when she falls short. She struggles to relax and often feels exhausted, yet guilty if she takes breaks. Her relationships suffer because she rarely asks for help, fearing it will reveal weakness.

Breaking Down Isabel’s Experience

Isabel’s story reflects the clinical science we discussed earlier. Her perfectionism is driven by fear, fear of failure, fear of rejection, and fear of not being enough. This fear activates her brain’s error detection systems, making mistakes feel catastrophic. Her internal critic is relentless, pushing her to work harder but never allowing her to feel satisfied.

Clinically, Isabel exhibits classic signs of maladaptive perfectionism: all-or-nothing thinking, excessive self-criticism, and avoidance of vulnerability. She’s caught in a cycle where success is necessary to validate her worth, yet success never feels enough.

Her perfectionism also impacts her mental health. Isabel reports symptoms of anxiety and fatigue, which are common in perfectionistic women. She’s at risk for burnout, and if left unaddressed, these patterns could contribute to depression or other complications.

Why Driven Women Like Isabel Are Particularly Vulnerable

Driven women like Isabel often face heightened expectations both externally and internally. Many grew up in environments where achievement was equated with love and acceptance. Society’s messages about “having it all” compound this pressure, making it difficult to set boundaries or accept imperfection.

Moreover, driven women frequently juggle multiple roles, professional, partner, friend, caregiver, and perfectionism becomes a way to manage this complexity. The problem is that perfectionism is exhausting and ultimately unsustainable. It leaves little room for self-compassion or realistic self-expectations.

The Emotional Burden of Perfectionism

Perfectionism carries an emotional burden that’s easy to overlook. For driven women, it often means carrying a heavy load of guilt, shame, and loneliness. There’s a constant tension between wanting to be seen as capable and fearing exposure of perceived flaws.

In therapy, I work with women like Isabel to unravel these painful emotions and help them develop a more compassionate internal dialogue. This process involves recognizing perfectionism as a protective but misguided attempt to manage deep fears. It’s about learning that worthiness is inherent, not contingent on achievement.

Conclusion: The Path Forward

Understanding how perfectionism manifests in driven women like Isabel is the first step toward healing. It’s a nuanced, deeply human experience that requires a compassionate and evidence-based approach. By acknowledging the clinical science and lived experience of perfectionism, we can begin to dismantle its grip and create space for authenticity, growth, and wellbeing.

If you see yourself in Isabel’s story, know that you’re not alone, and that change is possible. Therapy, self-reflection, and rewiring your relationship with achievement can help you move from perfectionism to progress, from fear to freedom. It’s not easy, but it’s worth it.

Navigating Perfectionism: The Double-Edged Sword of High Expectations

Perfectionism often masquerades as a strength, an admirable dedication to excellence and an unwavering commitment to goals. But clinically, it’s rarely that simple. Perfectionism can be a double-edged sword, especially for driven women who push themselves relentlessly. It’s a complex coping mechanism rooted in deep-seated fears of failure, rejection, or not being “enough.” Recognizing this dual nature is crucial for therapeutic progress.

In my clinical experience, perfectionism usually emerges from an internalized narrative that one’s worth is contingent on meeting impossibly high standards. This narrative often develops in childhood and adolescence, shaped by family expectations, cultural pressures, or early experiences of conditional love. It’s not just about wanting to do well; it’s about avoiding the unbearable feelings associated with making mistakes or disappointing others.

One of the most insidious aspects of perfectionism is its paradoxical effect on mental health. While it can drive productivity and success, it also fuels chronic anxiety, burnout, and a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction. A client may achieve remarkable professional milestones yet feel hollow or perpetually “behind.” This emotional dissonance is a hallmark of perfectionism’s clinical profile.

In my clinical work, perfectionism consistently reveals itself not as a high standard but as an emotional survival strategy. Driven women who’ve built their sense of safety around achievement often have a hard time distinguishing between the pursuit of excellence. Which is healthy. And the compulsive need to appear flawless, which is exhausting and corrosive. The distinction matters enormously in how we approach healing.

Clinically, addressing perfectionism involves unpacking these underlying beliefs and fears. It requires a compassionate yet firm approach that helps clients reframe their relationship with mistakes and imperfection. Cognitive-behavioral strategies can identify and challenge all-or-nothing thinking, while experiential therapies like Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) help clients embrace vulnerability and uncertainty as part of the human experience.

Moreover, perfectionism often coexists with other clinical issues such as depression, anxiety disorders, and obsessive-compulsive tendencies. It’s rarely an isolated phenomenon. For instance, a woman might present with generalized anxiety, but underneath lies a perfectionistic core driving her relentless worry about not being flawless in every role she inhabits, professional, partner, mother, friend.

In therapy, I encourage clients to explore the origins of their perfectionism with a forensic lens, examining family messages, cultural narratives, and personal experiences that shaped their self-expectations. This exploration is not about blame but about gaining insight and agency. Understanding the roots of perfectionism allows women to begin dismantling it piece by piece, replacing self-criticism with self-compassion.

The journey also involves learning to tolerate discomfort. Perfectionism thrives on avoidance of negative emotions like shame and anxiety. Yet, avoiding these feelings paradoxically intensifies them. Through mindfulness and somatic techniques, clients learn to sit with discomfort without capitulating to perfectionistic urges. This process fosters resilience and emotional flexibility.

Finally, reorienting values is essential. Ambition and striving for excellence are not inherently problematic. The clinical goal is to help women align their ambitions with values rather than fears. When motivation stems from authentic desires rather than avoidance of shame, it becomes sustainable and fulfilling.

In sum, perfectionism is a multifaceted clinical issue. It demands a nuanced, empathetic approach that honors the strengths and vulnerabilities of driven women. By reframing perfectionism not as a flaw but as a protective strategy gone awry, therapy offers a path toward freedom and self-acceptance.

Both/And. Embracing Complexity in Ambition and Self-Care

In clinical practice, I often see women caught in an exhausting tug-of-war between their drive to achieve and their equally pressing need for rest and self-care. This tension can feel like an impossible either/or dilemma: either push harder or slow down completely. But the truth is more nuanced. It’s a both/and proposition, embracing ambition and self-care simultaneously, without guilt or judgment.

Take Nicole, a composite client who embodies this complexity. Nicole is a 38-year-old marketing executive and mother of two young children. She’s fiercely ambitious, with a track record of rising quickly through corporate ranks. Yet, she also struggles with chronic exhaustion, anxiety, and a persistent voice inside telling her she’s “never doing enough.” Nicole’s story is one I hear often, and it illustrates why a both/and framework is so clinically valuable.

Nicole came into therapy feeling overwhelmed and stuck. She described her days as a relentless marathon, juggling deadlines, family obligations, and her own high standards. She felt immense pressure to excel at work while being the “perfect” mother and partner. The more she pushed, the more her body rebelled with insomnia and tension headaches. At therapy’s start, Nicole saw ambition and self-care as opposing forces. Either she was productive or she was resting, and resting felt like failure.

Clinically, this either/or mindset is a classic perfectionistic pattern. It creates a false binary that undermines wellness. In therapy, we began by validating Nicole’s ambition, acknowledging that her drive is a core part of her identity and a source of pride. At the same time, we explored the toll this drive was taking on her well-being. This dual validation helped Nicole feel seen without shame.

We then introduced the both/and framework. Instead of framing rest as laziness, or ambition as reckless overworking, we redefined them as complementary. Nicole learned that resting isn’t a break from ambition; it’s fuel for it. This shift required deep work on her internalized beliefs about worth and productivity.

One powerful clinical tool we used was a values clarification exercise. Nicole identified values like connection, creativity, and integrity alongside achievement. This helped her see that her ambition could serve these values rather than dominate them. For example, taking time to play with her children was not a distraction but an expression of connection.

We also worked on setting boundaries, something Nicole hadn’t prioritized before. She began experimenting with saying “no” to additional projects at work and carving out sacred time for herself without guilt. This was challenging because it meant confronting fears of being judged or falling behind. But with therapeutic support, Nicole developed strategies to manage these fears compassionately.

Another clinical focus was cultivating mindfulness and somatic awareness. Nicole learned to notice early signs of stress and fatigue, tuning into her body’s signals rather than pushing through blindly. This attunement allowed her to intervene sooner, preventing burnout cycles.

Throughout therapy, I emphasized that both/and doesn’t mean perfect balance every day. There will be days when ambition takes precedence and others when rest is essential. The goal is flexibility and self-compassion, not rigid rules. Nicole embraced this fluidity, which reduced her internal conflict and shame.

By the end of our work together, Nicole reported feeling more grounded and empowered. She still pursued her career goals with passion but did so with greater awareness and care for herself. Her relationships improved, and her anxiety lessened. The both/and framework transformed her experience from a battleground to an integrative journey.

Clinically, Nicole’s vignette highlights several key points for driven women:

• Ambition and self-care are not mutually exclusive. They can coexist in a dynamic, supportive relationship.
• Internalized narratives about worth and productivity shape how women experience this tension. Therapy can help reframe these narratives.
• Values clarification is a powerful tool to align ambition with authentic desires and well-being.
• Boundaries and somatic awareness are essential skills to manage energy and prevent burnout.
• Flexibility and self-compassion are the antidotes to perfectionistic either/or thinking.

In my clinical work, I encourage women to adopt this both/and mindset as a radical act of self-acceptance. It’s a rejection of the cultural myth that women must sacrifice well-being for success or vice versa. Instead, it’s an invitation to hold complexity with courage.

If you, like Nicole, feel caught between driving yourself forward and needing to slow down, know that this tension is natural and manageable. It’s not a sign of weakness or failure but of being deeply human. Therapy can provide the space and tools to navigate this complexity with empathy and skill.

Remember: you don’t have to choose between ambition and self-care. You can have both. And when you do, you create a sustainable path to thrive, not just survive.

The Systemic Lens. Understanding Your Experience in Context

When we talk about healing and growth, it’s crucial to look beyond the individual and consider the broader systems that shape our experiences. As a clinician, I often find that women who come to me carrying heavy burdens, whether from trauma, anxiety, or relational struggles, are deeply affected by the environments they inhabit. This is what we call the systemic lens: viewing your challenges not as isolated problems but as interconnected with family dynamics, cultural expectations, societal pressures, and historical context.

You’re not just a lone actor in your story. Your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are all influenced by the systems around you. For example, consider how family patterns, like communication styles, emotional availability, or conflict resolution, can unconsciously mold your coping mechanisms. If your family environment prioritized silence over expression, you might have learned to suppress your emotions to maintain peace. That’s not weakness or failure; that’s adaptation. But adaptation sometimes comes at a cost to your inner world.

Expanding this view further, societal factors such as gender roles and cultural norms weigh heavily on driven women. You might feel the pressure to be “perfect” in your career, relationships, and self-care, all while carrying the invisible load of expectations about femininity and success. These pressures can create internal conflict, making it difficult to distinguish your authentic desires from what you think you “should” want or be.

Moreover, systemic trauma, whether historical, cultural, or intergenerational, can silently influence your emotional landscape. For example, if your family has experienced discrimination, displacement, or other collective trauma, those wounds ripple through generations, shaping your stress responses and relational patterns. Recognizing this doesn’t excuse harmful behaviors but offers a compassionate framework to understand where these patterns originate.

By adopting a systemic lens, you begin to see your pain and struggles not as personal failings but as messages from a complex web of influences. This perspective empowers you to untangle your unique story from inherited patterns and societal expectations. It also opens the door to healing that honors the whole person, mind, body, and environment, instead of only treating symptoms.

In therapy, I use this approach to help clients identify the systems impacting their lives. We explore family histories, cultural narratives, and social contexts, making space for stories that might have been silenced. This process can feel challenging because it requires acknowledging not just personal pain but collective wounds, too. Yet, it’s also profoundly liberating. Understanding these layers gives you a roadmap for healing that is both deep and sustainable.

Remember, healing isn’t about erasing these influences but learning to navigate and, when possible, reshape them. You reclaim your agency by recognizing how these systemic forces operate and by choosing which parts to carry forward and which to release. This holistic awareness is a cornerstone of lasting transformation.

Ready to dive deeper into your healing journey?
If you’re craving practical tools and compassionate guidance to start repairing the foundations of your emotional wellbeing, I invite you to join my *Fixing the Foundations^™* program. This supportive space is designed specifically for driven women like you who want to break free from limiting patterns and cultivate resilience, clarity, and authentic connection.

[Sign up here to get exclusive insights, exercises, and expert support tailored to your needs.]

How to Heal / Path Forward

Healing is never linear. It’s messy, complex, and deeply personal. But from my clinical experience, I can share that the path forward for driven women who’ve been weighed down by systemic and internal struggles involves several critical steps. These steps are neither quick fixes nor one-size-fits-all solutions, but intentional practices that foster profound growth and restoration.

1. Cultivate Radical Self-Compassion

First, you must establish a foundation of radical self-compassion. This isn’t about indulging in clichés or forcing positivity. It’s about meeting yourself exactly where you are, with all your imperfections, fears, and contradictions, and offering kindness instead of judgment. When you can validate your own pain and struggles, you create a safe internal environment where healing can take root.

This practice counters the toxic perfectionism that often plagues driven women. Instead of beating yourself up for “not doing enough” or “falling short,” you learn to be your own ally. This shift reprograms your nervous system, reducing shame and increasing resilience.

2. Identify and Challenge Internalized Messages

Next, you need to uncover and challenge the internalized messages that may no longer serve you. These are the beliefs and narratives you absorbed from family, culture, and society, like “I must always be strong,” “Vulnerability is weakness,” or “My worth depends on achievement.” These messages often lie beneath anxiety, self-doubt, and relational difficulties.

Through reflective journaling, therapeutic dialogue, or mindfulness practices, you can bring these messages into awareness. Then, with curiosity and courage, you can question their truth and rewrite them in ways that honor your authentic self.

3. Build Boundaries and Practice Assertive Communication

driven women often struggle with boundaries because they’re conditioned to prioritize others or avoid conflict. Establishing healthy boundaries is essential for preserving your energy and emotional health. This means learning to say no without guilt, expressing your needs clearly, and recognizing when relationships or environments drain you.

Assertive communication skills support this process by empowering you to speak your truth respectfully and confidently. Together, boundaries and assertiveness help you create relationships and spaces that nurture rather than deplete you.

4. Engage in Somatic Awareness and Regulation

Healing isn’t just cognitive; it’s embodied. Trauma and chronic stress live in your body, often manifesting as tension, fatigue, or dysregulation. Developing somatic awareness,tuning into your bodily sensations, rhythms, and emotional cues, enables you to notice when you’re triggered or overwhelmed.

Somatic regulation techniques, such as deep breathing, grounding exercises, and gentle movement, help calm your nervous system and restore a sense of safety. These practices reconnect you to your body, fostering integration between mind and body that is critical for holistic healing.

5. Explore and Reframe Your Relationship to Ambition

Ambition itself isn’t the enemy, but the way it’s been framed or internalized can be. Rather than viewing ambition as a relentless push toward external achievement, try to reframe it as a source of purpose, passion, and self-expression. This shift can transform ambition from a source of stress to a catalyst for fulfillment.

Therapeutically, this means exploring what truly drives you beyond societal expectations or ingrained “shoulds.” What values and goals resonate with your authentic self? How can ambition support your wellbeing rather than undermine it? Answering these questions helps you align your drive with a sustainable and meaningful path.

6. Seek Safe, Supportive Relationships and Communities

Healing flourishes in connection. Finding or cultivating safe, supportive relationships,whether in therapy, friendships, or community groups, is vital. These relationships provide validation, empathy, and accountability, counteracting the isolation that often accompanies struggle.

Communities of women who share similar experiences can be particularly powerful. You don’t have to carry your burdens alone. Shared stories and mutual support remind you that you’re seen, heard, and valued just as you are.

7. Commit to Ongoing Growth and Flexibility

Finally, healing is a lifelong process. It requires commitment, patience, and flexibility. As you evolve, your needs and challenges will shift. Staying open to learning, adapting, and seeking help when needed keeps your growth sustainable.

Remember, setbacks aren’t failures; they’re opportunities to deepen self-understanding and resilience. Celebrate every small victory and be gentle with yourself through the harder moments.

If you’re ready to start this transformative work with expert guidance and a community of like-minded women, I encourage you to take the next step. The *Fixing the Foundations* program offers a structured, compassionate approach to reclaiming your emotional wellbeing and unleashing your authentic power.

[Join now and begin your healing journey today.]

Healing isn’t a destination; it’s a brave, ongoing journey we walk together. Remember, you’re not alone in this. Many driven women carry similar burdens and doubts, yet they also possess incredible strength, wisdom, and potential. By embracing the systemic lens, practicing self-compassion, and building supportive connections, you create a foundation strong enough to hold your dreams and vulnerabilities alike.

I see you. I honor your journey. And I believe in the radiant, resilient woman you are becoming. Let’s walk this path side by side.

Medical Disclaimer