I'm a disabled married man

[UglyGreed]

that has not worked since the age of 26, do not collect SSI or SSD because of my wife's earnings and I have a question to ask. Even though because of my many health problems, what happens in the highly unlikely event that my wife passes before I do? Does Hillary have a plan to help me or do I like many others just end up in the streets or become a burden to my children on top of their college debt since Hillary does not want to pay for Trump's kids college tuition. I know it's selfish to ask but in this day and age many women are the top earners in their households and many more men are staying home bypassing their careers. I think it's a fair question. If this post comes across sexist I apologize in advance to those I may of offended.

Hillary on SS


Secondly, I am concerned about those people on Social Security who are most vulnerable in terms of what their monthly payout is. That is primarily divorced, widowed, single women who either never worked themselves or worked only a little, so they have either just their own earnings to depend on or they had a spouse who also was a low-wage worker, and the first and most important task I think is to make sure that we get the monthly payment for the poorest Social Security recipients up. So that would be the first thing I would look at.

[FSogol]

1. O'Malley has an awesome, comprehensive plan on expanding social security:

Expanding Social Security So Americans Can Retire With Dignity

Our parents and grandparents should be able to retire in dignity—not poverty. Yet today in America, too many retirees are struggling to make ends meet. At the same time, the economic pressures on millions of families—from stagnant wages and high housing costs, to a lack of affordable childcare and skyrocketing college tuition—have resulted in meager, if any, retirement savings for tomorrow’s retirees.

Our government must do more to improve the economic and retirement security of all Americans. That is why Governor O’Malley has set a national goal of increasing the number of Americans with adequate retirement savings by 50 percent within two terms in office.

As the first and most important step toward meeting that goal, Governor O’Malley will expand Social Security benefits—not reduce them or undermine Social Security in any other way. Second, O’Malley will also make it easier for private-sector workers to invest in their retirement. He will put commonsense protections in place to prevent older Americans from losing the savings they already have. And to ensure that all families can afford to save for retirement in the first place, O’Malley will continue to put forward detailed policies to raise the wages of all workers.

EXPAND AND PROTECT SOCIAL SECURITY FOR CURRENT AND FUTURE RETIREES

Social Security is one of our country’s greatest collective achievements. Since it was first implemented in 1935, Social Security has kept millions of elderly Americans out of poverty. Today—following the Great Recession, which decimated the retirement savings of millions of Americans—Social Security remains an especially critical lifeline for our parents and grandparents: without it, more than four in 10 Americans over 65 would be living in poverty.

We cannot ask seniors with modest savings to live on even less. Instead, we should expand Social Security so they can retire with the dignity they have earned over the course of their working lives.

As president, Governor O’Malley will:

Increase Social Security benefits for all retirees—both today’s and tomorrow’s. Governor O’Malley supports immediately boosting monthly benefits in a progressive manner for all Social Security was intended as a supplement to individual savings and pensions, but today, one in five married couples, and nearly half of unmarried individuals, rely almost exclusively on Social Security checks to survive. More than two-thirds of Americans near retirement will not have enough savings to maintain their current standard of living.

Strengthen Social Security’s long-term fiscal outlook. The solvency of Social Security is not in crisis: Social Security has adequate funds to pay full benefits through 2034. But to pay for expanded benefits, Governor O’Malley supports lifting the cap on the payroll tax for workers earning more than $250,000.In addition, Congress should implement policies to lift the wages of all workers, which will make meaningful contributions to Social Security’s long-term balance sheet. This includes raising the minimum wage to $15 an hour and enacting comprehensive immigration reform.

Ensure Social Security benefits are sufficient to keep retirees out of poverty. The immediate future is dire for many Americans nearing retirement: one in five Americans has no retirement savings at all. To keep seniors out of poverty, Governor O’Malley supports increasing the special minimum social security benefit to 125 percent of the poverty line for Americans who have worked at least 30 years.

Increase Social Security benefits for minimum wage- and lower-income workers. As wealth inequality continues to widen and traditional middle class jobs prove harder to come by, Governor O’Malley supports adjusting “bend points” in the formula to give minimum-wage and lower- and middle-income workers more financial security.

Prevent benefits from eroding over time. Governor O’Malley supports using the Consumer Price Index for the Elderly (CPI-E) instead of the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners (CPI-W) to determine Social Security’s cost-of-living adjustments. The CPI-E provides a more accurate reflection of the higher cost of living for retirees than the current measure, which focuses on younger workers. Using the CPI-E will ensure that benefits do not erode for future generations of retirees.

Reform Social Security to support, rather than penalize, caregiving. Governor O’Malley supports providing up to five years of “caregiver credits” that would increase the 35-year wage base for those who spend an extended period of time providing full-time care for children, elderly parents, or other dependents. In practice, current methods of calculating benefits penalize workers, most often women, who take extended time off to care for their families.

Reject efforts to raise the Social Security retirement age. Governor O’Malley believes that raising the retirement age is a back-door way to cut benefits for lower-income workers. It harms these workers in two ways: by forcing them to delay retirement in jobs that are often physically difficult, and by reducing lifetime payouts compared to wealthier retirees, who live five years longer on average than their lower-income counterparts.

CREATE SIMPLE, STREAMLINED RETIREMENT SAVINGS OPPORTUNITIES

With the days of defined benefit plans long past, millions of hardworking Americans lack adequate savings to support their standards of living when they retire. Nearly one in three Americans has no retirement savings, rising to one in two for Americans under the age of 30. Current investment vehicles such as defined contribution plans and IRAs have been grossly inadequate and underutilized for preparing most working Americans for comfortable retirements.

As president, Governor O’Malley will:

Dramatically expand access to employer-based retirement plans. Half of all workers do not have access to a retirement plan. Among part-time and low-income workers, roughly seven in 10 lack an employer-based retirement option. Governor O’Malley would require employers with more than 10 employees to process an automatic employee contribution to an IRA for all employees, at a level determined by the employee (who would have the option to opt out).

Raise wages so all workers can afford to save. Since millions of hardworking Americans live paycheck-to-paycheck and struggle to save for retirement, raising the minimum wage and other wage policies are also critical to ensuring that today’s workers can retire with dignity and security in the future.

PROTECT SENIORS FROM RISKS TO THEIR FINANCIAL SECURITY

Older Americans face increased financial risks that threaten their ability to retire with dignity. Every day, unscrupulous lenders and scam artists attempt to separate seniors from their lifelong earnings. Republicans in Congress bent on slashing budgets attempt to undermine Social Security and other vital programs. And a growing number of aging Americans who need quality long-term care cannot afford it.

Implementing measures to better protect seniors from these threats to their financial security will help provide a stronger retirement firewall for millions of Americans.

As president, Governor O’Malley will:

Reject efforts to privatize Social Security. Governor O’Malley views proposals to privatize Social Security for what they are—a massive benefits cut that will gut Social Security, add to the federal debt, and leave future generations without the critical protections Social Security has provided for decades.

Increase penalties for those who defraud our seniors. Older Americans are often targets for financial scams and exploitation, at an estimated cost of nearly $3 billion a year. The vast majority of frauds go unreported. Governor O’Malley will advocate for policies to protect our seniors from financial fraud, including laws to increase penalties for the financial exploitation of older Americans, laws to allow financial advisors to refuse or delay transactions where clients are being defrauded or exploited, programs to better identify and report financial exploitation among older Americans, and increased investment in prosecutors and advocates to go after elderly abuse.

Fully implement the fiduciary rule. Under existing retirement advice rules, some brokers and financial advisers are allowed to sell Americans products even if they know they are poor investments. This conflict of interest, where advisers put their own bottom lines before helping their clients, costs workers saving for retirement $17 billion every year. President Obama has proposed a critical and commonsense rule to require those who give financial advice to put their clients’ interests first. Governor O’Malley will fully enforce this important fiduciary standard, protecting the retirement savings of millions of Americans and creating a level playing field for the many investment advisers who already act in their customers’ best interests.

Make affordable, high-quality long-term care a national priority. Americans’ longer lifespans are outpacing our ability to provide quality and affordable long-term care. Although seven out of 10 Americans will need home care at some point in their lives, many Americans and their families struggle to afford it. Nine out of 10 people who provide long-term care are women, while home care workers are underpaid, overworked, and lack important benefits and protections.As baby boomers age, now is the time to move forward, working with the private sector, to develop an efficient, affordable, and high-quality system to provide a diverse range of long-term care services for our seniors. Governor O’Malley will lay out a comprehensive plan for reforming long-term care and supporting caregivers in the coming weeks and months.

Link: https://martinomalley.com/the-latest/expanding-social-security/

[UglyGreed]

9. Thank you for the reply

but like Bernie it seems unlikely either one will be able to win the bid over Hillary.

[elleng]

47. Thanks so much for posting this, FSogol.

You REALLY beat me to it!!!

[FSogol]

50. Anytime. n/t

[PatrickforO]

77. That's a good platform.

Bernie wants to expand Social Security by first lifting the payroll tax cap so that everyone, wealthy included, pay a fair share in terms of the percent of their salary.

As to SSI and SSDI, they have been under attack for some time. Programs like Ticket to Work encourage the disabled to get jobs. Sounds good, but the purpose of Ticket is to reduce the number of people receiving the benefit.

The corporatists, Third Way-ers, and Republicans all want to cut disability programs, or means test them.

My take is that we can use a little Social Democracy around here...

Which is why I'm for Bernie, but O'Malley is a very clear second choice.

[PatrickforO]

79. You know what sucks about this disability system?

Their default answer when you apply is 'no.' Most people have to get a lawyer to apply and then FINALLY be approved for these benefits.

Here's what makes me angriest:
- When someone like you, who is legitimately disabled applies, you face the stigma caused by years and years of corporate propaganda saying people who use safety net programs are lazy, are scamming, are trying to somehow get something 'for free.'

-BUT.....when the bottom fell out of Wall Street due to criminal malfeasance by the bankers in 2008, they had Hank Paulson, himself a criminal, present ONE typewritten sheet, maybe 2/3 of a page, DEMANDING $750 billion in TAXPAYER money to bail them out.

I'll tell you this: when the parasites on Wall Street and their GOP/Third Way Dem shills can get a monstrosity like TARP passed and people like you cannot get the relief you need for your disability without hiring a lawyer, then we have a real bad wealth inequity problem here in the United States. It is a problem that we need to change. That's why I'm for Bernie, and others are for O'Malley. Both are for us and not the oligarch parasites.

This election means something. Your vote means something. Because all we have are our votes - the corporate greed heads have all the money. But they are frightened now, more than they have been in a while. Now people are talking about this stuff and 'wealth inequality' has entered the national dialogue. We need to press our point, so please, all of you, if humanly possible try and vote in your primary, and when you do...

Think it through for yourself and then vote in your own best interest, not the way the propaganda tells you you should.

[Chemisse]

2. Your wife's earnings should not influence your SS application.

You should apply for it, or at least become certified as disabled so you can get on it quickly if something happens to her.

Sadly, there is not a lot of help out there for people in tough situations. The welfare that right-wingers still complain about doesn't really exist anymore.

But there is still a safety net for the disabled, meager though it may be. It would be nice to get an increase, but right now I just want it off the chopping block!

[UglyGreed]

8. When I got hurt I thought

I would be able to return to work and also my WC lawyer told me I could not collect WC and SS so by the time I realized I would not be able to return to the workforce my credits ran out. I tried many times after that but my wife makes too much for me to collect anything. I understand it was my pride and ignorance that cost me. This was in 1991 and at the time I did have not internet access plus the fact I was trying to get better.

[Chemisse]

10. My husband is on SS disability.

During the application process, he was never asked about my income.

You should apply. If you don't need the money right now, you could donate it to the homeless or another good cause, but it will be there someday if you do need it.

On edit - It may differ for you though: my husband worked for a lot of years before becoming ill, which allowed him to be eligible.

[UglyGreed]

13. Yes I lost my credits

a long time ago. Thanks for the reply.

[Bluenorthwest]

54. The only way for Social Security 'credits' to expire is when you expire. You only lose them in death

nt

[UglyGreed]

72. Tell that to SS please

so I may collect my 25 years that they owe me then ..................OMG give me a break

[NCTraveler]

76. They don't owe you for that to which you didn't request.

You have recourse if you requested and they fraudulently denied you.

[giftedgirl77]

16. So it was your own fault, not the systems.

Another post proving your post is factually false.

[zalinda]

29. How cruel

When you become disabled, you always assume that you will be able to return to work. Your first thought is never to apply for Disability, unless you are there to scam the system. It takes a very long time to come to terms that you will not be able to work again unless you have a physical impairment that makes it absolutely clear that you can't work like losing a body part or function.

When you apply after your credits run out, any income by any means possible is counted against SSDI. That also means even a small inheritance, rent, or even a gift will be counted against you. People on SSDI have to walk a very fine line, which can be asked to be verified at any time. I get $750 a month on SSDI, if my son helps with the bills in any way, that money is deducted from my SSDI check. I have to give him money to pay the bills, he can't give me the money to pay the bills. It's sad, but they make it so you are stuck in poverty, unless you win the lottery.

Z

[giftedgirl77]

31. Nonsense, his credits didn't run out over night or

in a couple of years. Even if he was trying to go back to work he could've applied for benefits during the initial injury while working to recover. Then gotten off of them if he recovered. But none of that happened.

[giftedgirl77]

32. I am also on SSD, I get a 1000 a month plus 250 for each kid.

I also get a pension & only worked 12 yrs. Never has any of this bullshit come up. Not to mention his concern about if his wife passes. Like he doesn't known anything about death benefits. If he was truly concerned he would've posted this somewhere where he might truly have been trying to get answers instead of GDP. This shit has nothing to do with the primaries.

[restorefreedom]

38. hillary wants to cut ss like republicans

om and bernie want to expand it

bullshit that it has nothing to do with the primaries. The nom and the president to be could affect this mans future.

[giftedgirl77]

39. Oh please at no time as HRC said anything about cutting

benefits. Even if she did it wouldn't effect him bc he failed to get his benefits in the first place. Some of us actually have these benefits & understand the process.

[restorefreedom]

44. she refuses to come out and say she wants to expand it like bernie and om

everything is on the chopping block for her, except of course military spending.


http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/hillary-clinton-balks-social-security_561dc504e4b050c6c4a35fbe

[giftedgirl77]

49. ....

I don't see how he allowing his credits to run out is anyone's fault but his own. The same ppl saying HRC wants to cut them are the same ones that scream it about the POTUS every time budget negotiations start & they are constantly wrong. Putting words in ppls mouths is dirty business.

If he would've included the fact that his credits had ran out in his OP we could've started with that. Then i wouldn't have had to tell him he was wrong about not getting benefits based on his income. Not to mention there are plenty of ppl in this country that are collecting & have never worked of are scamming the system so i have absolutely no problem with more safeguards in place.

[restorefreedom]

52. every story is unique

i don't know why anyone has to assume he doesn't know what he is doing. it sounds like he has been trying to figure things out for quite a while and is familiar with the system. And that's one of the things that's unfair about the current application of the system. People who get it or not necessarily in need of it like the scammers, and people who desperately need it or could benefit from it or having a hard time getting it.

if you are so familiar with the system and how it works, perhaps the more compassionate thing to do would be to offer him some suggestions as to how he could work his way through the system instead of criticising him for trying to get help. i'm sorry that his circumstance highlights the crappiness of Hillary's policy compared to Bernie and O'Malley's, but that's just the way it is. maybe if people like you and this man send emails to her campaign, she might actually consider expanding Social Security like the other Democrats want to do instead of just pandering to get votes.

[artislife]

46. I hope you can use these posts

to help you move up on the heart transplant list.

It is medical proof yours is disappearing at an alarming rate.




Sending prayers.

[giftedgirl77]

75. Lololol, or many just lack logic & reason.

[zalinda]

73. You are comparing apples to oranges

I went through it. SSD and SSDI are two different things and are treated differently. You have to have worked so many quarters in a certain amount of time in order to get SSD and if you late even 1 credit during that time period you can't get SSD. I know because it happened to me. It is always from the time you apply, going back. You could have worked for 20 years, then get laid off or worked sporadically or become disabled and if you don't have enough quarters worked, you are out of luck. I know, because it happened to me.

Applying for SSD is not easy, even some who lose a limb or their hearing, can and often do get denied, especially on the first submission. SSDI is even harder to get. And this is especially true for a man, who is after all expected to suck it up and endure any thing thrown their way. That attitude may be changing, but has been true for centuries.

Also, where you applied may be quite different from where he applied. The rules are not written in stone, they are up to the discretion of the people judging whether you are fit to work.

But then, you got yours, so why worry about someone else. And, it has everything to do with the primaries, Hillary doesn't give a shit about any one who is really struggling. She really thinks she is Queen and her lowest peons will just have to do with what she cast off she gives them. I DO NOT TRUST HER!

Z

[giftedgirl77]

74. Like I've said at least 5 times he probably could've put

that in his OP to begin with & I would've have changed my initial statement. However, I was also told below that credits don't expire. I haven't looked that up yet to see if it's true.

Don't trust her, idc. There are many things I don't trust any of them on bc when it comes to social issues no of them are going to do what needs to be done.

[restorefreedom]

37. wow, are you kidding?

this can't be a serious response to this heartfelt op.

i think you forgot something

[artislife]

43. Image this

Imagine looking down at this. I think the heart is actually very large considering your reality.

[INdemo]

53. You need to find a reputable Attirney

You should be receiving SSD now because the SS format used is your personal income and not household

[TexasTowelie]

3. You haven't included your age or how long you are married, but you may be eligible for survivor's

benefits.

https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf

You probably should look into applying for disability yourself though. I doubt that you have the 40 quarters necessary to qualify, but it is worth the effort to look into it.

[DocPain]

5. Interesting.....

My wife has not worked since around 2000 due to severe plaque psoriasis on her hands and feet. I make enough to support us, and have insurance, but have never thought of the longer term impact if I should die.

Thanks for putting that thought in my already neurotic head

And as for you, I wish both you and your wife long and happy lives.

[UglyGreed]

11. Sorry to hear about your

wife's health problems and I apologies for adding to your worries and stress levels. I wish you both the same and forget about my post

[giftedgirl77]

7. SSD is not income based.

[UglyGreed]

14. Here we go

After 25 years of being disabled I think I understand the system SMH

[giftedgirl77]

15. Well considering I am too & collect it for myself plus

stipends for both my kid's plus a military pension & waa married to another Soldier at the time of my claim & a paralegal I can tell you with 100% certainty that SSD is NOT income based. Nice try though.

[UglyGreed]

17. So your situation

is totally different than mine. Even thought you may think you are an expert let explain me to you what can happen. You see if your credits run out you become INELIGIBLE for SSD. If you are married they take your TOTAL HOUSEHOLD INCOME to see if you QUALIFY for SSI hence my wife earnings not allowing me to collect. Glad to see you are taken care of but that does not mean everyone is as lucky as you and your family. BTW you are welcome for the quick lesson

[giftedgirl77]

18. Your problem is YOU let your credits run out.

YOU dropped the ball. The system didn't fail you. YOU failed to handle your situation in the fashion required by law. That is your fault & no one else's. There is no if & or but about it. No politicians are going to rewrite the law so ppl who fail to handle their business as an adult will be protected.

You are the only one to blame for your shortcomings.

[UglyGreed]

20. In 1991 before

all the SS commercials on TV. Before access to the internet. Bad advice from a WC lawyer add all that up and sure I admit dropped the ball. Oh and forgive me if I wanted to get better, work and get on with my life. Sure I dropped that ball but you are telling me that I was wrong which I proved to you that you were wrong. So I guess I learned my lesson and now use my mistakes to inform others so they do not do the same. Thank you for allowing me to do so.

[giftedgirl77]

23. No, you started this thread with some convoluted theory

about the fact that you weren't collecting SSD bc of your wife & whatever your life might become if she passes away. You conveniently left out the part about you failing to work the process properly. Not to mention if your wife was working the whole time & dies you would receive her death benefits.


Once again it's not about being right. If you would have included the fact that your credits ran out then we wouldn't have even had this entire conversation bc I could've just led with it was your fault. I don't even know why you brought HRC into the conversation. You could've posted this in the disability group & had an honest discussion.

[UglyGreed]

26. I've told my story

Here on DU many many times, tell you the truth most would stop reading after the first sentence. Anyway if I included the story someone like yourself would find fault in that being not about the election, just asking for sympathy or whatever you and others would use negate my point.

You know what I was thinking I could probability get SSI if I divorce my wife (nod, nod wink wink ) still live with my family have taxpayers pay my medical bills, get food stamps and get whatever else I could out of the system. Even though I dropped the ball and have had many people like yourself belittle my struggles, read my mind and judge me to no end I chose to be honest with myself.

Even after all that and all my trials and tribulations I still have morals and live an honest life. I don't hide things I feel and if some of the posters on DU don't like my honesty, to tell you the truth, they to me are as troublesome as a cloudy day.

[giftedgirl77]

40. I could've just started with the fact that you let your credits run

our. The rest of what I said became moot when you explained your credits arw gone. You'll still get survivors benefits if your wife passes first.

[liberal_at_heart]

25. wow. very compassionate.

[giftedgirl77]

28. No compassion is needed just common sense & logic.

[artislife]

48. Like Scarlett

This is where she tells him she has grown a woman's heart.

[azmom]

30. WTF giftedgirl77

Back off. This poster does not deserve this kind of treatment. You need to apologize. You are way out of line here.

[giftedgirl77]

33. No I'm not, he was wrong in so many ways.

I pointed out the crap he posted was blatantly false.

[stillwaiting]

59. You sound as harsh, judgmental, and lacking in empathy as most conservatives.

I hate seeing it here.

[giftedgirl77]

62. Oh please.

Because I stated factual evidence that based on what his OP said SSD isn't based on your spouses income. Then when pressed he says his credits ran out? How is this not a personal problem? It sucks that he supposedly can't get benefits bc his credits are gone but if he would've handled his business accordingly this wouldn't have happened. At what point did this become a primary issue? No one is going to change how & when you are supposed to file?

[stillwaiting]

63. Your communication style is harsh, judgmental, and lacking in empathy. Like conservatives. nt

[giftedgirl77]

65. Are you calling me a conservative?

I am painfully blunt always have been. I don't think there is any need to sugarcoat anything. All I did was lay the cards out for all to see. My post is nothing but facts, I don't know him from Santa Claus. Facts are facts.

[stillwaiting]

67. Of course I'm not calling you a conservative. I'm saying that I read through this thread and many

of your posts.

It left a very bad taste in my mouth, and I felt like you were expressing yourself the way that conservatives tend to do. I get the same feeling when I react to what they say about issues generally.

I don't know how someone who identifies as liberal would respond the way you did though. Instead of thinking we should change the current system to take care of the needs of someone in the OP's position (who deserves help in my opinion), you would leave them to suffer (it certainly seems), say you blew it, and that's that (THAT is what conservatives do as well).

I don't know you to say whether you're a conservative or not. I simply feel like you are communicating like one regarding this issue and circumstance.

[giftedgirl77]

69. All I'm saying is at some point ppl may want to

figure out how shit works instead of assuming someone is going to magically fix things for them by getting elected.

[JackInGreen]

42. Reap as you sow

Eom

[giftedgirl77]

45. ....

I am as I got my SSD, his failure to take action is not the governments fault it's his. 25 yrs later he decides it's a problem. His credits didn't run out over night.

[Bluenorthwest]

56. Social Security work credits expire upon your death, they remain there to be counted until you are

not there to be counted.

[giftedgirl77]

58. Well then why is he saying he doesn't qualify bc his

credits expired? This whole thing makes no sense to me. First his OP says he doesn't qualify because of his wife's income then when I challenged that it changed to his credits are gone. I only know the system bc I went through it & had to fight tooth & nail for mine. But I at least have first hand experience not just through word of mouth?

[zalinda]

81. Only as to Social Security Benefits

with Disability it is different.

I don't remember how many years they count back to when you apply for Disability, let's say it's 5. Within those 5 years, you must work so many quarters with so many credits to qualify for SSD, if you don't qualify, you have to apply for SSDI. It's as simple as that. I lost out on SSD by 1 quarter, if I had worked even 1 day in that quarter, I would have qualified for SSD. SSD would have given me more money and have been less restrictive than SSDI.

Z

[UglyGreed]

12. I see a few

posts have been self deleted....... wonder what they were all about

[NCTraveler]

36. I self deleted.

I wouldn't put too much thought into it. I wish you would have taken advantage of what has been available to you. It is a problem we have with the social safety net. You could have been collecting and using those funds to offset life insurance premiums completely removing this concern of yours. We both agree the social safety net was there for you but the education wasn't. These days it is a little easier to get accurate information but is still to cumbersome to really make sense to those who need it most and the process takes way too much of their time.

I wish you and your wife the best.

[dsc]

19. I don't know that any candidate has a plan which would help you to be honest

that said, I would recommend that your wife put a major life insurance policy upon herself if that is at all feasible.

[UglyGreed]

21. I understand that

thank you for not attacking my point of view. Honestly I know my situation can not be helped but there is no reason it should not be at least discussed. If people like myself remain silent there is no chance for change.

[dsc]

22. It could be helped

but the number of people in your position is such that there is very little knowledge and thus very little political incentive to do so.

[tammywammy]

66. +1 on the life insurance policy

This situation is not much different than a stay at home spouse that loses their partner.

Ugly Greed, I hope your wife has a life insurance policy that would assist you and your children if she should pass away.

[Downwinder]

24. Been through this. Can't guarantee accuracy.

What I have found.

If you are not eligible for SSDI you are SOL.

If you and your spouse divorce or separate:
You could get SSI. 900 plus change per month reduced by any other income, includes Medicaid.

[nruthie]

27. A legitimate concern.

I don't quite understand the nasty remarks directed to you. Hope you find the help you need.

[restorefreedom]

41. let me offer a guess

hillary supporters are sometimes very sensitive about the fact that her so called policies do nothing to help people who are in poverty or are medically in some kind of need. She wants to cut Social Security, give more goodies to the 1% take us into another war, and is not on board with an increased to $15 an hour minimum wage or free college at state colleges. her plan is to bolster once again the desires of her 1% donors.

normally people just jump on and say you're attacking Hillary. clearly it's now going to step further to attacking people who have genuine concerns that call into question her atrocious policies. another step down in the so called civil discourse.

[azmom]

34. I am so disapointed by the comments above.

How to fund my retirement is also a huge concern for me as I am disabled as well.



I also have a daughter in college and I also take care of my mom so there is not much in terms of savings for retirement.


It's important that we are clear on all the candidate's positions on social security.

Thanks for posting.

[treestar]

35. LOL do something for yourself

and make an estate plan. You don't have to wait for Hillary to do it for you.

BTW, Presidents are responsible to run the executive branch and vote on bills and conduct diplomacy/command the military, not to take care of individual Americans' needs.

It's as if you think the President is a Castro or Peron who can keep themselves popular by buying refrigerators for individual poor people.

[jeff47]

55. Whoooooooooosh

An estate plan to deal with the no money. Brilliant advice.

SSDI is off the table due to his wife's income. But if she dies, the income goes away. He'd probably qualify for SSDI at that point, but he's got to pay the bills until that application goes through. With no money.

[Bluenorthwest]

57. But SSDI is not means tested and has nothing to do with the spouse's income. His spouse could make

a billion a year, it matters not. In fact the disabled person can have other income in any amount, say they own rentals that bring income or royalties, it does not matter how much they still get their SSDI or Social Security in retirement. SSDI is never off of anyone's table due to the income of a spouse or household member, ever.

It is very wrong to spread inaccurate information about benefits which can make or break the lives of others.

His wife's income is irrelevant to his own SSDI. Irrelevant.

For SSI, which is a means tested supplemental benefit, your household can't have much income at all. That is not SSDI.

People who might qualify for SSDI should not be told that their spouse's income influences their own benefits or ability to collect.

[jeff47]

60. Accidentally hit the "D" when typing the acronym. Meant SSI.

[artislife]

51. Funny

Read who wrote what and ask yourself if the posters who sounded like republicans on this issue were Bernie supporters.



We may have destroyed a meme and outed the blame the victim sorts.

[in_cog_ni_to]

61. Whoa! What is this? Another skewed version of "Compassionate Conservatism?" Empathy?

Ever hear of it?

Of course, reading through all the snide, rude posts that are void of any compassion or empathy shows me none of them are Bernie supporters. Surprise, surprise.

I'm so sorry, uglygreed, that you were subjected to this shit from this bunch of Hillary supporters. It says a LOT about who they are though. It says so very much.

[giftedgirl77]

64. Whoa what's this another OP by a Sanders supporter

that lacks facts?

Shocker I say.

I am a O'M supporter thank you.

[artislife]

70. calling elleng

She can model grace.

[giftedgirl77]

71. Lol, good for her.

On this board it's no holds bar.

[WillyT]

78. + 1,000,000,000 What You Said !!!

[in_cog_ni_to]

80. ...

[ismnotwasm]

68. Mu husband has secondary-progressive multiple sclerosis and can no longer work

In fact, we are on way to an his bi-annual MRI this morning. I am a strong Hillary supporter and a registered nurse.

Do you mean a protective plan for additional benefit, a payment increase, improved health benefits or protecting SSDI cuts from Republicans? All of the above?