Anyone familiar with Social Security ??

My sister in laws husband has pancreatic cancer and is not expected to live much longer , may not make it thru December according to the Drs.
My sister in law was told by someone that she is required to give back her husbands SS check in the month that he passes away ????? She was told that if it is spent she will have to repay it ???

I did go to the SS website and it did say ....

DO NOT cash any check the month of death or any there after.

Now , The part about " any there after " makes sense , but i just do not understand why it is you cannot use the money the month you pass away ???? In my eyes , if you are alive when you recieve it , it is yours !!!!!!!!

If this is true , this has to be one of the most idiotic moves i have heard of. She is afraid to pay her bills with the money for fear of having to pay it back. What if you live by yourself and pass away , are YOU supposed to send it back yourself ??

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I am pretty sure that is correct. When my father in law passed way, it was like the 2nd of the month. My mother in law mentioned had he passed away at the end of the previous month she would have had to refund his SS check. I would think they should be at least pro rated, but they are not. It's one of the things that shows those idiots in Congress are out of touch with real people.

[QUOTE=bandito72ply;489228]I am pretty sure that is correct. When my father in law passed way, it was like the 2nd of the month. My mother in law mentioned had he passed away at the end of the previous month she would have had to refund his SS check. I would think they should be at least pro rated, but they are not. It's one of the things that shows those idiots in Congress are out of touch with real people.[/QUOTE]

Did your MIL have to refund the check for the month that your FIL passed away ???

This just does not make any sense to me at all. I am going to start making phone calls/emails about this. I am retired and have the time to pursue this and i am the kind of person that if i do not do anything about this it just eats away at me.

I would think that if he is living when the check was received, that she should not have to repay it? She might be entitled to survivor's benefits after he passes, I would go in person to your local ss office and talk to them there

I am not sure about the exact month issue but I do know if he made more than her in his lifetime she has the right to collect his SS once she is old enough to do so. I believe there may be a stipulation on how long they had to be married but not sure how long it is. I know my father-in-law worked for Fords for 30 years. He passed away several years ago and now my mother-in-law is about to collect SSI benefits. She was told since he made more then her she can collect his instead of hers. It's not a both type deal just one or the other.

Thanks for the replies on this subject.

In my eyes , it is not right and i plan to let my congressman and senator know this.

[QUOTE=Darrell;489260]Thanks for the replies on this subject.

In my eyes , it is not right and i plan to let my congressman and senator know this.[/QUOTE]

Your SIL and wife (or you) really need to go into your local SS office before your BIL passes and they can tell you whats what. And if your SIL is entitled to Survivor's benefits, etc

I do plan on taking my SIL to the SS office and talking with them. Nothing like talking to them face to face.

I know the people at the SS office do not make the laws , just enforce them , but i am still going to let them know how i feel.

In a polite way of course !!!!! :mad:

[QUOTE]What if you live by yourself and pass away , are YOU supposed to send it back yourself ??

[/QUOTE]

If you don't you may get a Letter telling you that you could be charged for interest,fines and even up to Jail. I'm sure it would be no fun to be dead and have to go to Jail.

Then they wonder why people snap in this society and go on shooting sprees!!

[QUOTE=borbon 8;490042]Then they wonder why people snap in this society and go on shooting sprees!![/QUOTE]
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