Quote:I was waiting for this topic. 


 

As much as I don't want to believe myself, I think the US Government forces you to save money because most people are too stupid to do it by themselves. 


 

To me, they are basically stealing my money.  Then they are putting it in a savings fund that will perform far worse than any other rate of return I currently enjoy.  And that is assuming I will ever see mine back.

 

Wait.  You actually think there's a fund where this money resides?

 

Quote:She couldn't appeal because she waited too long because she didn't even know she could appeal.  


Oh, and of course she only applied for Social Security because when she had to retire due to blindness, OPM (Office of Personnel Management for the Federal Government) told her she should.  (She worked for the Federal Government, Department of Transportation for... I really don't know how long.  I think it was almost 30 years)

 

Social Security will still be around.  You probably will be like most people, and not have paid enough in, or not qualify for some other reason.  I'm certainly not counting on social security, and would prefer to be able to opt out of it.  I save my money much better than the government does.  I could put it toward my kids college tuition, so they won't owe money for half their lives.

 

I'd consider hiring a lawyer that deals with Social Security issues.  Yeah, it'll cost some money to do so, but they might be able to get some sort of resolution for your mom.

 

Social Security will be around, but if you're under 50, you're better off planning for your own retirement and not worrying about what you might be able to get from the government. 

 

A friend of mine ran into a very similar situation with his mother a few years back.  He was trying to get her Social Security squared away, and her story was very much the same as your mother.  He ended up hiring a lawyer and getting her a settlement.  In addition, this attorney did some research, and found that his mom was entitled to spousal benefits from the military.  Her husband was a Korean war vet.  It took them 2 years, but when the VA finally did pay off, it was retroactive, and they were able to make her final years very comfortable. 

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