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Post by Jolly on Oct 1, 2021 23:46:14 GMT
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Post by joebill on Oct 19, 2021 12:44:53 GMT
You also have to understand that the rules keep right on changing until you retire and claim it, so not much point on learning the rules until you get close to that point. Mom had been a homemaker from fairly early in life until all her kids were out and gone, then suddenly started machine sewing the backs on quilts for what we all considered peanuts for wages, and of all things insisted on claiming the money on their taxes. Drove Dad NUTS! She also insisted her meager earnings were exclusively her own, which was not really a problem. She earned it. We all kind of changed our tune about her wisdom a few scant years later when she began drawing her SS checks, which never would have happened without those few extra years of paying in, and bless her soul, she lived until 90, drawing money every month. See? That's what happens when a lady has all of that time sitting at home THINKING!... .....Joe
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Post by UseLess on Oct 19, 2021 13:41:19 GMT
joebill, Your Mom would have been eligible for spousal SS, so I'll guess the check based on her own earnings and years was better than the half of your Dad's she'd get. When my Mom passed away, Dad was so annoyed that he didn't continue to get her portion. He took a lump sum when he retired, and when he passed on, between SS, savings, investments and some penny-pinching, he left that dollar amount for us kids.
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Post by joebill on Oct 19, 2021 20:10:06 GMT
Not sure she would have been eligible back then while he was still alive? Anyhow, she wanted it to be HER money They were both kinda funny that way. Dad's folks were the opposite. Grandma Stella got NO money except egg money from her chickens plus Grandad paid whatever the bill was at the market, so Grandma bought all sorts of crazy stuff at the market so he would pay for it with the groceries. Mom questioned her once about buying stuff like nylons at the A&P, and she finally confessed with a smirk that if she went to JC pennies for them she would have to dip into her egg money. When Dad sold off some of his guns, the money went into a back compartment in his wallet as HIS money, available for any toy or tool or whatever he coveted Janet and I have a different deal. I just hand it ALL to her, then she asks me how much I want back and hands it to me. We have never had any serious disagreements over money, but then we have never had to live through the great depression, either. I think that folks in our parent's generation deserve a bit of leeway in their attitudes and actions, because people their age literally starved to death over being poor. That has to change a person who sees it happening......Joe
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Post by UseLess on Oct 20, 2021 0:11:37 GMT
Not sure she would have been eligible back then while he was still alive? Spousal SS was available in 1939. It's half what the main wage earner gets. And yes, it's available when both parties are alive. There are also survivor's benefits.
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Post by joebill on Oct 20, 2021 1:41:24 GMT
Shows what I know. She was very happy she did what she did, and justifiably proud as punch she did it on her own, so I was very happy for her....Joe
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