Wednesday, September 3, 2014

The reports of my death are greatly exaggerated

I'M STILL KICKING!

My title today is taken from the text of a cable sent by Mark Twain from London to the press in the United States after his obituary had been mistakenly published. Well I had a similar experience today, no obit, but my death was reported.

I had an appointment with the Social Security Administration this morning.  


After receiving half of my ex-husband's benefit for four years and letting my benefit grow, I'm finally going to reach the great age of 70 - in January - when my benefit stops growing and I can collect it.  It won't ever be more, so January is the time to switch.  I had scheduled this appointment a month ago out of curiously - what was I going to get at age 70?

Then I received the news that my ex-husband had died on August 14.  Since we were married for more than 10 years, I was technically considered his widow, eligible for widow's benefits.  Certainly more than what I was receiving now.  My list of questions to ask this morning changed.  

When I arrived at the office, I was taken back into the office, not in front of one of the windows where you sit and talk through the glass with the SS employee.  I sat down across from Frank, who was very friendly and talkative.  He wanted to know my name, birth date, address, why I was in New Mexico if I had a California address, etc. etc.  I practically told him my life story.  Certainly appropriate questions since I was there to get some personal financial information.  He stood up and said he'd be back, and after a while he came back with some reports.  

He said he believed I was who I said I was, but information had been submitted to the SSA that I was deceased.  My account had been closed and I had no more monthly deposits scheduled.  

I am so glad I made that appointment!  Frank said he would have time before the usual deposit on the third Wednesday to "resurrect" me and see that my account was again open and functioning with my deposit this month increased to my "widow's benefit."  

It turns out MY benefit, because I let it grow until age 70, will be greater than Jim's was when he took it at age 62, so I'll have to make another appointment  in December to switch Jim's over to mine.  Then that's it forever, or until I reach 105 and die, whichever comes first.  :)

Interesting, huh?   

And FYI - this I didn't know - if a person takes 1/2 of a spouse's Social Security at full retirement age like I did, they get 1/2 of the spouse's full benefit.  But a widow's benefit is exactly what the deceased was earning at the time of death.  In my case, since Jim took his benefit at age 62, that's what I get - not his FULL benefit - a difference of about $600 a month.  So, for those of you who haven't started collecting SS yet, it could be important when you DO start.  It might affect your spouse down the road if they are the lower earner.   Every month you don't collect your Social Security after age 62 adds to the monthly benefit.  All the way to age 70.  If any questions, since I'm not an expert nor an employee of SSA, call them.  They are really friendly and don't mind taking the time to answer any questions.  1-800-772-1213

WE'VE LEFT STORRIE LAKE STATE PARK

From the end of May until the 1st of September I've been at Storrie Lake except for a brief stay at Bluewater Lake State Park and one night at Heron Lake State Park.  It's definitely been "The Summer at Storrie Lake."  Katie and I had such a good time with all our friends, Jeanne, Nancy, Annie and Roxi - and also meeting up with new friends, Renee and Patti.  And of course, John.   Farmer John with all his chicks.  It's been really fun getting to know you all and/or getting to know you better.  A Wonderful Summer, for sure!

On our walk the other day Jeanne and I decided Riley should try out Katie's Stroller.  He LOVED it.  So cute.  :)


Katie and I both made new friends a few days before we left the lake, Patti and her three little pups.  They are just darling, and she walks them all together.  Katie got along really well with them, they were just her size. 

Patti's saying - they won't look at you.  All four dogs looking up at Patti - I thought this was cute:

Okay, here we go...  everyone look at the camera:











They were very interested in each other and there was a lot of nose to nose greeting and (the other end) sniffing going on.  Katie doesn't usually meet up with dogs whose butts are low enough for her to sniff.  Patti's dogs were very friendly.  Aren't they adorable?


I thought this was a great looking grasshopper - he was on Katie's stroller when I was packing up.

That's it for now - we're in Santa Fe doing some errands for a couple of days.  It's HOT.  I went to Sam's Club and got a bag of four large Artichokes.  I boiled one of them and it's cooled off a bit and is sitting right in front of me, ready to go - so I'm done blogging for now.  LOL  YUMMMMM!

From me and Katie, have a great Wednesday, everyone!

29 comments:

  1. I just went through the SS thing for my mother, as my Dad has just passed. She was pleasantly surprised to find out that she gets 100% of his amount, and since he made a sizeable salary, she will be comfortable. I had to laugh, we went to Costco today and bought the same bag of artichokes :) Had one for dinner, yum!

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  2. I'm so sorry to hear about your Dad's passing. He would be pleased to know his hard work is still paying off in benefits to your Mom. The Social Security Administration was so easy to deal with.

    ...and yes, my artichoke is gone, and it was GREAT! ;)

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  3. Sure glad that Frank is able to resurrect you. Can you imagine if he didn't really think you were you. Enjoy your raise.

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  4. Glad to see you back--I checked every day to see if the bird was still dead! I had begun to worry about you!

    Holy cow! How did they decease you? There's something weird about that. When my Dad died, my Mom had to take a copy of his death certificate to the Social Security office.

    Love the photo of the pups all looking away from the camera & then toward you--so nice that they' had a good time checking out each other's name & address.

    How did you manage to stay at Storrie Lake for such a long time--what a nice summer!

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    1. I didn't stay continuously - it's 14 days in the campground out of every 20. At first I was staying 14 days then driving into Las Vegas, a town 3 miles away - super convenient! - and staying at the Wal-Mart for 6 nights. After a while I got tired of staying 6 night at a Wal-Mart, so I started doing 7 days in the campground and 3 days out. That was very easy to do. :)

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    2. Good to know you can do it that way--thank you, Barbara!

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  5. What a cute canine quartet! Glad you exist once again.

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  6. WOW what a surprise. I thought you were at least five years younger than me not a year and a half older. You are aging very well young lady. Keep up the good living it is paying off.

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    1. Hey, Barney - I'm lucky to be super healthy, and happy about that! Thanks for the compliment - and, OFM, I KNOW you're not old OR fat... I call myself "the little old white-haired lady," but I really AM a little old white-haired lady. In my mind, however, I'm really a tall, slim, 40-year-old. LOL

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  7. I love artichokes, but have not had one in a very long time, just not something I think of.. will have to go get one!!! Those are all cute dogs.... what a lot of dogs to have...

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  8. Good for you for getting your financial ducks in a row.

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  9. I love artichokes too but they are really expensive here and I've not had one.

    Glad you got everything straightened out.

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    1. Hi Karen - at Sam's Club and Costco they are $5.98 for six HUGE globe artichokes. One is a dinner for me. In the stores, even Wal-Mart, they are around $2.50 or more. I'll pay $1.49 each at the big box stores, but not $2.50+. :)

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    2. Ooops - I meant to say, they are $5.98 for FOUR huge globe artichokes.

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  10. Welcome back to the land of the living. Looking forward to more of your adventures.
    Be Safe and Enjoy!

    It's about time.

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  11. I went to SSA about 2 yrs ago to see if I was eligible for any of my late ex-husband's soc. security. Since I am on Federal Civil Service Retirement and not SS, I would have my pension reduced by a certain percentage if I took his benefit. It ultimately turned out I would receive $1 extra per month. I had a good long laugh at that, and I'm sure wherever he was he laughed along with me. One of my kids suggested I take the $1 a month and buy a lottery ticket with it!

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    1. That's funny, $1. Not worth the gas to drive to the SSA office! :) I have to say, though, once I'm 70 and receiving my OWN benefit, I'll be happy that I'm living on my own money. Not that I wouldn't take his if it was more. LOL

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  12. Hello, alive lady! I particularly like the photo of all the dogs looking up at your friend! It always entrances me when animals all move in synchrony!

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  13. Craig and I both took our benefits as soon as we could. Although we both hope to live long, we felt cash in hand was better than more for longer. Both of us have had very young deaths in our families and very old. Who nows! I hope I live a long time and will be happy with leads.

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  14. So glad you had that appointment scheduled. Good to nip that in the bud and have it all fixed quickly. Nice that you got some pics of Patti and the pups. I always forget to get out my camera. Hope all is going well with your travels. :-)

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  15. You are the second full timer that has had this happen that I am aware of. I wonder how that happens. It' is a good think you are still with us.

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  16. Well, its a good thing you scheduled that appointment and got everything straightened out. Are you headed to Arizona now?

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    1. Hi Teri! No, I'm staying in New Mexico for a while longer, heading south. Probably will hit Arizona at the end of the year. :)

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  17. Don't remember if I have posted a comment before or not but have followed your blog since the beginning. Could not pass up a chance to tell about the only time I visited a SS office. Was a Federal worker and they were coming out with a new retirement system. Needed to find out what I had contributed to SS. Went up to the window and presented my ID'S. The lady looked at me and said that there was a problem. Seems I had switched for a male to a female sometime over the years. She told me I would have to bring in my birth certificate for it to be changed back to male. I thought about telling her I could show her I was a male but I came back later with my birth certificate. Thanks for letting me travel with you and Katie.

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    1. OMG - that's a new one! Although if I'm resurected, it would be fun to come back as a male! I mean, really - that wouldn't be interesting.

      Thanks for commenting, Mike! :)

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  18. Some people prefer to talk to a representative at the Social Security office through phone, because it's more convenient that way. But with regard to your situation, it’s really a good thing you visited their office, and that you were able to correct the misinformation they had. Anyhow, reaching 70 is a great milestone. And I hope you’ll have a great and memorable day when it happens.

    Brad Post @ Jan Dils

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  19. Hi Barb
    I just applied for my own SS 3 mos before my 70th (July) so that it would take effect on Sept 1st. I also checked to see exactly what it would be and found out that there was a hold up because they needed some questions answered. Everything got worked out but it ended up being delayed a mo. It's always good to follow up when you're dealing with any bureaucracy.
    I'm glad that you are alive again.

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  20. I am finding this part of your blog *years* late, I realize you might not see this unless you get notifications, but I'm desperately curious: who reported you as deceased to SS? How did they come to believe you were deceased? This seems huge and horrible and important - was it deliberately done by someone or an accidental input by a system that saw your condo and property being sold, and the "estate sale" taken as some sort of evidence? You seemed to take it lightly but I would have been horrified and tried to aggressively chase down the cause of that flag.
    If you ever found out how/why that happened, can you let us know?

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