Did You Know This?

yooperdave · Apr 19, 2004

My 75 year old Aunt died yesterday just 5 months after being diagnosed with a cancerous brain tumor /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif.

The funeral director told me that Social Security does not pro-rate their monthly pension payments to the elderly. If you die anytime during a given month, Social Security will require a full refund for that month. I thought that they might want the days not used back, but everything back is unbelievable.

Is this another fine example of burocracy?

Yooper Dave

GerardC · Apr 19, 2004

Sorry to hear about your Aunt /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif .

They say your guaranteed two things in life, "Death and that you'll pay Taxes".

It seems that we never stop paying.

ljh2 · Apr 19, 2004

Dave,

Sorry about your aunt. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

It doesn't make any sense trying to get back what was paid to her - pro rata or not. This is burocracy in the extreme. The cost to collect and process the repayment is probably higher than what she collected anyway.

leaddog · Apr 19, 2004

Oh but if they qualify they get the huge sum of $255 to bury them. /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif
Oh , they also don't start to pay you untill six weeks after you qualify for ss. If your birthday is may 1 you don't get first check until july14, I know as I just signed up.

Junkman · Apr 19, 2004

My condolences on your loss....

My mom died 28 years ago this past week and it was that way back then. Most people die before the next check is delivered, not the day of or day after, so as you can see, they do get a lot of money back with this policy. Personally, I would think that once paid it should be yours, but the politicians that wrote this regulation don't think so. I would say that it is a safe bet that they get the last months payment back from 99% of the people. /forums/images/graemlins/frown.gif

If you have to wait for the first check after you sign up, they it will be prorated back to the day that you become eligible.

frank_f15 · Apr 19, 2004

DAVE: so sorry about your aunt, always difficult when u lose a loved one. i went thro the same thing whem my dad died and then when my mom died, u know it ain't reall so much money , just the thought that they do it that way just p----s me off. but not to worry, u will be getting a wooping $255 death benefit for uncle sam! don't lie awake trying to figure out how to spend it!

frank_f15 · Apr 19, 2004

LEADDOG! know what u mean . my birthday was jan. 3 , so i did not qualify for jan, so i qualified for FEB but they hold back i month so i did not get my first check till march! now if that is the case why ain't u (or uyou heirs) entiltled to the check in the month u go to the great tractor yard? never going to be different, as long as the congressmen get full pay for life. now that is one great retirement plan.

Junkman · Apr 20, 2004

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( ............... never going to be different, as long as the congressmen get full pay for life. now that is one great retirement plan. )</font>

This isn't true, so if you want the real truth, read the entire article here.... This will debunk all the myths and misconceptions, that have been so popularly spread as e mails since the WWW was invented by Vice President Gore.. LOL... /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

jayhawkRoy · Apr 23, 2004

My condolences on the loss of your aunt. I hope she lived a fulfilling life.

We need to remember who makes the rules for Social Security -- Congress -- and not the bureaucrats. The bureaucrats execute and interpret the choices Congress makes. In this case, Congress (many, many years ago) set the conditions and proration of the last check was not a choice made.