[__ Prayer __] Mom's being denied SS benefits

[handy]

I am asking prayer for my mom. When Dad died she did all the paperwork necessary to get his social security as his widow. Dad had been self-employed and paid a buckload of social security taxes over the course of his life. And, since he never truly 'retired' he didn't draw much from them at all. Well, first Social Security denied Mom any of his benefits. After she appealed, they sent her a letter stating that she would have to give up her own SS but that she would recieve the entire widow's benefit, which combined with her own pension from her years of working, would be (just) enough to live on. Then December rolled around and nothing from SS. Not her own SS nor any of Dad's. So, she called them and they told her, "Oh, we've sent you a letter. We reviewed it and decided that you aren't going to get any benefits." Here she had made important decisions as to where to live based upon the fact that they TOLD her she would be getting widow's benefits and then they just say, "Nope, we changed our mind, you don't get nuttin lady!"

I really wonder if they are doing this because she is a little old lady who is still grieving for her husband and figures she would be easy to rip off! I AM SO MAD I COULD SPIT NAILS!!!!!!

Anyway, we have an appointment with the SS (good initials for this group, reminds me of another SS group that were in the business of making life misrable for folks) tomorrow. I am going to go with Mom and see what we can do, hopefully without hiring a lawyer, to get some of the money that Dad was forced to pay all these years of working. We do have a copy of the letter they sent to her telling her that not only that she would be recieving benefits but even the dollar amount she would recieve, so hopefully that will help.

The bottom line is, Mom's pension isn't enough for her to live on, and with Dad's benefits, she would just, with careful budgeting, be able to live. Naturally, all of her children, not to mention a good many of her grandchildren have offered her a home, but she doesn't want to move in with anyone as long as she's healthy enough to live on her own. And, she shouldn't have to, after all Dad had worked all these years paying into a system that is supposed to provide for just these needs.

BTW, if you all could pray for me as well, that my attitude would be one of reconcilation and helpfulness towards resoluton rather than going down there loaded for bear and only suceeding in making them more apt to stonewall Mom.

 

[Caroline H]

I will pray for this situation...I know it is extremely frustrating. You shouldn't have to fight for something that is rightfully your's, especially something that should be yours because of a loss of a family member. God is in control of the situation, and I pray that His will will be done.

 

[LostSoul]

I will pray for this situation...I know it is extremely frustrating. You shouldn't have to fight for something that is rightfully your's, especially something that should be yours because of a loss of a family member. God is in control of the situation, and I pray that His will will be done.

Amen, and will be doing the same.

 

[Vic C.]

Dora, I will lift you all up in prayer also. I have a good idea what you and she may be going through. I may have to go through a similar battle if my mom decides to move from Florida to NJ and keep her benefits intact.

 

[sheshisown]

Hi Dora~

I guess there's nothing so frustrating as dealing with bureaucratic red tape!
One day when I am older I will probably need to deal with the same thing. My husband died 9 years ago, and my sister-in-law sent me the paperwork to fill out for widows benefits, which I did. By the time I am able to collect any of it they may have conjured up a law that removes their responsibility for paying it.

In the mean-time your mom has to struggle to recieve what she and your dad paid into through his life's work! Argh! Well, at least we know one thing for certain, the Lord defends the widow and will come against any who would oppress a widow.

I am giong to battle in prayer over this situation for your mom, what is her name, and what state is she living in Dora? I want a few specifics to place with her info for our prayer chain. They will pray and seek the Lord until there is an answer. :heart

May the Lord cause a just decision to be made for your mom tomorrow, may He give you and her both great favor with those in authority, and may He move His children into positions to assist her even as I pray. :yes
May our Father make it possible for her to recieve the full benefit of her husband's hard earned payments into Social Secuirty. I ask that any confusion would be removed and that all who have responsibility in this matter would clearly see, and do, what is righteous, for the glory and name of Jesus Christ.
I ask especially for you, Dora, that the Lord would overshadow your concerns and fears for your mom, and make it possible for the Life of Christ to be known in you thru this situation. I ask that His peace that passes understanding would be yours as you wait on Him to defend your precious mom.

Righteousness exalts a nation. May our nation (so corrupt today) do righteously in this situation, and may God exalt our failing country once again. His will be done firstly, His love be poured into your hearts continually, and His grace be ever extended towards you. :amen

In the love of Christ, bonnie :waving

 

[Rosalee]

Dear Dora- I will be keeping you & your mom in my thoughts and prayers for Gods' blessings for you & your mom. How awful that they should do this to her, they surely can't expect her to live off of nothing?? My mother-in-law went through a situation similiar to this many years ago, with the exception that she had a disease and had filed for SSI. Boy did she ever get the run around from the DR's and SSI. She eventually won her case- thank goodness or she to, would have had nothing to survive on. Keep us posted. God Bless you.

Rosalee Decker
This is the Day the Lord has made; let us rejoice & be glad in it

 

[Caroline H]

How did it go, Dora? Did everything turn out alright?

 

[handy]

My apologies for not getting back to you all sooner. Thanks be to God for such faithful prayer friends.

The appointment with Social Security went well. One big answer to prayer is that the woman that was assigned to work on mom's account is squarely in her corner. As a matter of fact, even before we went to the meeting, she had deposited money in mom's account to make up the difference of what she should have been getting since September.

God does indeed work things out, because of this problem we found out that they were incorrectly figuring Dad's benefits to begin with, so Mom will actually receive more than what she originally thought she would. Plus, she also received a lump sum to make up the difference for that mistake as well, which the agent figured out and deposted as we were sitting with her. This really made mom feel so much better.

It still isn't completely worked out, because the central office still denies that she should be getting anything, but at least their own agent is working at correcting the problem, rather than us having to do battle with them.

Thanks again for praying for us about this. God's praying people are wonderful!

 

[Rosalee]

I am so very happy to hear that this worked out so well and that her prayers were answered. That will be a HUGE relief off of her mind & yours too!! :D

Rosalee Decker
This is the Day the Lord has made; let us rejoice & be glad in it

 

[Caroline H]

Yeah, that's really good news, praise the Lord!

 

[sheshisown]

:D Dora~

God is glorious in His awesome victory! May He win out for your mom completely in this situation, may He continue to break every cord that binds her much needed benefits, and may each authority submit to the will of our Father for the fame of Jesus.

Staying beside your family Dora until the Lord has victory according to all His perfect will in this situation. Let us know what's next to pray for...

In Jesus love, bonnie

 

[Vic C.]

...It still isn't completely worked out, because the central office still denies that she should be getting anything, but at least their own agent is working at correcting the problem, rather than us having to do battle with them.

Thanks again for praying for us about this. God's praying people are wonderful!

Good news, an agent and agency that is actually trying NOT to cause you much stress. Thank you God for small wonders.