Now that we're living off our huge SS checks, we're being told that if we not married my wife would get more money. She was approved for medicare and disability then 3 days latter got a letter saying it was rescinded because I made too much money. She needs cataract surgery, no fun being on the road if you can't see it.
So, has anyone gone this route?
I tried "search", but it seems to be down.
rjenkins said
07:16 AM Dec 5, 2010
Sorry to hear about your situation and hopefully it ends well. All I can tell you is what I was told and researched when I was divorced some years ago.
My ex had her own business which was 90% cash and never reported it all when it came time to filing taxes which also impacted what went into social security. This was found during the financial discovery stage of the divorce. I on the other hand, have been paying the maximum amount you can pay into social security for the past 20 years which means my monthly checks once I retire would be substantially higher than my ex's.
I asked my attorney that since 401K's and company pension are divided at the time of the divorce, what happens to social security that is also a pension where both people put into it. I was told at the time of the divorce her social security amount would become a mirror image of mine, in other words, hers would be bumped up to mine although my payout would not be affected at all.
I then asked if this doesn't lead to potential fraud for a couple where one made much more than the other, are happily married, but divorce in order to bump up their social security to be the same. My attorney said yes and that some people actually do that. In order not to be suspicious though, they need to have two households (which isnt hard if they have a 2nd home because they put one in the other persons name) have a separate bank account but they still basically live together. The only down side is no survivor benefits if one passes away.
Never thought that this would be allowed or would happen but apparently it does.
skoville said
08:11 AM Dec 5, 2010
Thanks for responding, rj. I knew there would be a down side but we need to work out the medical for her. Sounds like a few hoops to jump through. I remember people would get divorced for a better tax break and the Gov. finally changed it. Apparently SS has yet to catch up.
I'll have to change my avatar. LOL
-- Edited by skoville on Sunday 5th of December 2010 08:13:02 AM
Now that we're living off our huge SS checks, we're being told that if we not married my wife would get more money. She was approved for medicare and disability then 3 days latter got a letter saying it was rescinded because I made too much money. She needs cataract surgery, no fun being on the road if you can't see it.
So, has anyone gone this route?
I tried "search", but it seems to be down.
I knew there would be a down side but we need to work out the medical for her. Sounds like a few hoops to jump through.
I remember people would get divorced for a better tax break and the Gov. finally changed it. Apparently SS has yet to catch up.
I'll have to change my avatar. LOL
-- Edited by skoville on Sunday 5th of December 2010 08:13:02 AM