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Military Widows Tax - 2/9/2011 3:50:40 AM

KenDckey

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quote:

ORIGINAL: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110209/ap_on_re_us/us_widows__tax

Tens of thousands of the nation's war widows find it perplexing and downright disrespectful to their late military husbands: In order to fully collect on insurance their husbands bought for them when alive, they must marry another man.

And to qualify, the widows must remarry when they are 57 or older. Those who remarry earlier miss out, as do widows who never remarry.
At the heart of the issue is a government policy known as the "widows' tax." It says a military spouse whose loved one dies from a service-related cause can't collect both survivor's benefits and the full annuity benefits from insurance the couple bought from the Defense Department at retirement. Instead, the amount of the annuity payment is reduced by the amount of the monthly survivor benefit.

Just another example of taking the nations problems out on Military Personnel and their families. Ugh

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/9/2011 4:35:40 AM

MstrssScarlet

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This just turns my stomach! My father spent 20+ years in the Air Force before retiring. About four years ago he developed cancer that was probably related to chemicals he was around/using while serving his time. There was no treatment for it. Before he died, he made one request of my mother - that she not remarry. He was a genious in the stock market and worked hard while he was sick to make sure he left my mother with enough money to see he to the end of her days. His fear was that she might remarry someone who would take advantage of her financially. His fears were apparently justified, although I doubt he counted on THIS.
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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/9/2011 4:48:38 AM

Moonhead

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Bloody hell.

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/9/2011 5:59:02 AM

flcouple2009

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What the fuck are you blathering about?

It seems what they actually were paying for was the right to collect their benefits in a lump sum rather than the payments later. They thought they were buying a separate insurance policy. The DOD did a lousy job of explaining that to them when they joined the plan.

Since the DOD created the problem they should be able to fix it without an act of Congress. You let the people buy it like it was insurance, pay it as such.

What does any of that have to do with "taking the nations problems out on Military Personnel and their families"?

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/9/2011 7:59:17 AM

KenDckey

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quote:

ORIGINAL: flcouple2009

What the fuck are you blathering about?

It seems what they actually were paying for was the right to collect their benefits in a lump sum rather than the payments later. They thought they were buying a separate insurance policy. The DOD did a lousy job of explaining that to them when they joined the plan.

Since the DOD created the problem they should be able to fix it without an act of Congress. You let the people buy it like it was insurance, pay it as such.

What does any of that have to do with "taking the nations problems out on Military Personnel and their families"?

Actually Married Military Personnel are required to join unless you can convince your wife to sign it away. The military member has no choice.

In response to your question, is a special taxation of military personnel's surviving spouses. After all, they are just military right? So it is ok, Right?

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/9/2011 8:51:31 AM

Musicmystery

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quote:

they actually were paying for was the right to collect their benefits in a lump sum rather than the payments later.

That makes much more sense.

I knew the OP couldn't pass the smell test.

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/9/2011 8:51:36 AM

flcouple2009

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Your not following this.

There was the survivor's benefits AND the full annuity benefits. You enrolled in one OR the other NOT both. They were also not the same price and much as you are not understanding that now, neither did the people who signed up. They thought they were enrolling in both not getting one or the other.

I don't believe that this many people can not understand what they signed up for. I blame the DOD for failing to make things clear. Just pay the people and move on.

Again what does this have to do with "taking the nations problems out on Military Personnel and their families"? This is and always was a disagreement about how certain benefits were to be paid. The "widows tax" is just a cute little name someone tacked.

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/9/2011 9:02:56 AM

flcouple2009

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MM,

It's a confusing mess. I am not even sure reading it now if that was right. I do see there were 2 different benefits and you purchased one or the other. The benefits were also priced differently and those who paid the higher rate thought they were receiving both.

I easily see how these people were confused about what they were signing up for. I doubt if the people explaining it to them at the time actually had a clue.

Just pay the people, fix the problem and then move on. It's the DOD's mess, why does it require and act of Congress to fix?

< Message edited by flcouple2009 -- 2/9/2011 9:04:42 AM >

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/10/2011 2:30:39 AM

sirsholly

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It's been awhile, but the way it was explained to me..

The "payments" made by the military personal were a form of insurance so that the spouse received the full amount of the designated benefits, either by pension check or cashing in the annuity when eligible. She received the annuity if she remarried because a military widow cannot receive a monthly widows pension check if she remarries (in most cases). There is no choice involved. If she wants the annuity she has to remarry.

< Message edited by sirsholly -- 2/10/2011 2:56:26 AM >

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/10/2011 3:36:53 AM

KenDckey

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And it is all set by law, not by DOD. DOD sets regulations, like any other branch of the service, that implement law. Left to it's own devices, soldiers would probably be able to retire after 5 or 10 years vesting. LOL And at full pay. LOL Not gonna happen but is true.

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/10/2011 12:59:26 PM

pahunkboy

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We have a new guy at the radio station that is a disgruntled vet. Pretty vocal about it too.

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/10/2011 2:10:50 PM

OrionTheWolf

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Maybe this will help:

Military widow: Pentagon demands money from husband's benefit back

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/10/2011 2:45:43 PM

KenDckey

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quote:

ORIGINAL: OrionTheWolf

Maybe this will help:

Military widow: Pentagon demands money from husband's benefit back

yes thanks.

What pisses me off is that when I enlisted we were guaranteed both social security and military retirement, plus whatever we got from the VA if he had a service connected disability (I refuse to even apply for mine). Anyway, they came along later and changed the law. SCOTUS decided that we really didn't get retirement pay. We got a retainer fee and therefore weren't entitled to both. Yes, we are subject to recall throughout our lives, so that is one way of intrepretation. Another is that we retired, why can't we get retirement like others? Whatever, SCOTUS decided the issue. My neighbor retired from both the Army and Civil Service. He isn't entitled to both and gets his social security cut for his efforts. There is a monetary price we pay whether we agree or not.

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/10/2011 4:19:39 PM

OrionTheWolf

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At least the give some benefits now. My Father retired from the AF, served in Korea and Vietnam. He received several medals and commendations. When he passed away he got a plot, military honors, and 30 min for us to have the services. Heck we had to buy the flag for the ceremony. That's all. The VA explained that he retired a few months before the benefits law went into effect. Not sure why his life insurance was not continued after retirement, but he apparently thought he had some. Water under the bridge, but lessons to be learned.

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/10/2011 5:28:37 PM

KenDckey

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SGLI generally can only be continued for a few months if I remember right. They call it something else but can't remember what that is either. And you have to pay for it yourself. Could be he, like myself, opted out at the time of his retirement. The flag should have come from the VA. Often it is presented by the Legion or VFW. When I was a survivor assistance officer, it was the funeral director that made the arrangements for it.

My son developed mental issues that are service related. They retired him and the VA is taking care of him now. He won't speak to me, but that is because I won't give him a weapon. Besides being against the law, I don't believe people with severe mental issues need one, not even for self defense. They are, in my personal experience, more of a hazard to themselves than anyone else can be.

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RE: Military Widows Tax - 2/10/2011 5:32:52 PM

willbeurdaddy

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quote:

ORIGINAL: KenDckey

SCOTUS decided that we really didn't get retirement pay. We got a retainer fee and therefore weren't entitled to both.

huh?

"Earnings for active duty military service or active duty training have been covered under Social Security since 1957.

Social Security has covered inactive duty service in the armed forces reserves (such as weekend drills) since 1988.

If you served in the military before 1957, you did not pay Social Security taxes, but we gave you special credit for some of your service.

You can get both Social Security benefits and military retirement. Generally, there is no reduction of Social Security benefits because of your military retirement benefits. You’ll get your full Social Security benefit based on your earnings."

< Message edited by willbeurdaddy -- 2/10/2011 5:35:27 PM >

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