Give Me Back My Bullets

"The Good Lord giveth and the Good Lord taketh away."

That says a mouthful. I guess I should be saying Social Security giveth, Social Security taketh away. They are REAL good at the taking away part. So good, in fact, that their taking away occurred before their letter arrived to inform me to give it back.

My husband was retired/disabled upon his death and was drawing a monthly benefit from Social Security. I informed social security of his demise and handed them a death certificate at the same time. The dude who was working there at the time made a copy of the original death certificate and handed the original back to me. I politely asked him if he was sure he didn't need the original one with the little raised seal on it. He politely said, "No". He proceeded to input some of the info into their computer(which makes it official btw) and then told me how sorry he was that I had lost my husband 10 days before. "Thank you", I said as my daughter and I headed out of the door ecstatic that it only took us 15 minutes to pull that off. There were tons of aggravated people sitting in that room. I guess that there were not many there to report a death.

Before departing the office, I asked the guy about the check that had just been deposited into our account for my husband's July benefits. He said, "don't touch it until you get a letter from us and it will tell you what you need to do from there." Cool, I thought. Easy peasy!

But of course this is government business, so it's never easy peasy. The following week I received a statement from my bank telling me that Social Security had gone in and removed the money. No problem, I thought. That's less that I have to do. I thought it was a done deal at that point. But oh nooooooooo. That wasn't the end of it. I got a letter from Social Security this past Friday telling me that I needed to return the monies that they had paid for my husband's July benefits because and I quote, "Social Security doesn't pay benefits for the month of death." I immediately got on the phone and was ready to give them a piece of my mind. I told the guy who answered the phone what was going on and he told me to "calm down" and he would check the computer (which apparently is their version of the Holy Grail). I gave him all of the necessary info and he pulled up my husband's info. He says, "oh yes I see we've already taken that payment, so don't send us any money because we don't want you to overpay us". How nice of you I thought. I then proceeded to ask him about the not paying benefits in the month that the death occurs. I told him my husband passed away on July 22, which is well past the middle of the month shouldn't I be able to keep a portion? "No", he said. But...but...but..what about the money I spent on him prior to his death in July? (cricket's chirping.) "Hello?" . "Ma'am, we don't pay benefits for the month of death, that's all I can tell you." "But you can apply for the $255 death benefit while we're on the phone if you like". Ok..I like. "Please hold while I get a claims agent on the phone". Good grief.

So this lady comes on and tells me how sorry she is that my husband has died and that she'll file the paperwork for the death benefit but she needs to "ask a few questions first". I roll my eyes (thank goodness I'm on the phone for that part..lol). She asks me a gazillion questions and I answer them as best I can. She then asked me if I had been in the military. HUH? I say, "what's that got to do with anything?" (crickets chirping again) She says, "we have to ask". "Why?" She doesn't know I don't think. She then tells me that his Ex is entitled to widow's benefits if they were married for more than 10 years, which they were. Really? Not that I begrudge someone from getting what they're entitled to, but does the government realize how much money they might can save if they stop paying these numerous ex-wives that these husbands leave behind? Shouldn't they not pay them once they're the "EX"? No wonder social security is broke. It turns out that I can draw widow's benefits when I turn 60y/o and depending on what my income is determines how much I can get. But at least I was still married to him when he died. I don't get it. You (social security) go into our account, take out the money you've already paid because you "don't pay benefits in the month of the death", but you'll pay his ex-wife widow's benefit even though they didn't occupy the same space in over 30 years?

It's not about the money. It's about what's right imo. I used some of that money for his needs up until the date of his actual death and then I have to give it ALL back because he's not entitled to anything because he died. So whether he died on July 1st or July 31st, social security isn't responsible. But his ex can get benefits based on his record after he's gone but not the recipient themselves while they're alive.

The gubment giveth, the gubment taketh away. That's why this country's drowning in debt. The logic of this is just too illogical. Typical bureaucratic bull.

"Please do NOT pass go, please do NOT collect $100 but give us back our money even though you earned it through your hard work and sweat".