Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Marilyn on December 28, 2009 at 10:49pm

My husband also died a few weeks ago. The unemployment he received stopped in November. We both lost our jobs on the same day last year - I know that contributed to his health problems. Luckily I finally got another job but he didn't. For the first time in his life he had no life insurance - although I have a small policy thru my employer. Did you contact social security? I can receive money for our daughter but it won't come till the end of January. We walked into the hospital together and I never got to speak to him again. I've been told life insurance will take about 3 weeks after applying - hoping that is true. If you can't make the mortgage call the company and explain the circumstances. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Priscilla on December 28, 2009 at 10:53pm

Marilyn said:

My husband also died a few weeks ago. The unemployment he received stopped in November. We both lost our jobs on the same day last year - I know that contributed to his health problems. Luckily I finally got another job but he didn't. For the first time in his life he had no life insurance - although I have a small policy thru my employer. Did you contact social security? I can receive money for our daughter but it won't come till the end of January. We walked into the hospital together and I never got to speak to him again. I've been told life insurance will take about 3 weeks after applying - hoping that is true. If you can't make the mortgage call the company and explain the circumstances. Good luck!

Permalink Reply by Anita Simmons on December 31, 2009 at 10:42pm

Priscilla, I am so sorry. Your head is still in a fog and will be for awhile. It's been 9 weeks for me and I'm still trying to get thru it. I want to say, 'don't worry about it" but you will. I worry so much that I never leave my home. I only get unemployment and it's almost gone. It took me 6 weeks to get all my bills in my name. Let them come to you. You have an idea when everything is due maybe a calender with all the bills due dates on it will help. They say in my grief book to write everything down. You can't control how you are feeling yet life still goes on so having a small note pad and pen with you to write stuff down that you need to do. If your late with anything they will find you and you can talk with them about your situation. They are very understanding and will waive late fees etc. All mine were and even to today when I had a problem they waived fees. I wish I could be there to help you out with it all.

Priscilla, please try to let yourself grieve, cry, whatever you need to do. Bills can wait, your broken heart wont. You have a roof over your head for a long time.

Permalink Reply by Priscilla on January 1, 2010 at 6:55am

My husband and I expected that I would stop getting my Social Security and I would get his. It turns out that, since I am not yet 66, I will only get about 90% of his SS.

Well, I just got a letter saying that I will be getting 90% of MY SS benefits. That's not even funny. I am getting so upset about this, I don't know where to begin trying to straighten it out. I'm going to try to go to the SS office personally instead of waiting for a form, sending it back, etc.l!!!!

As for other "benefits." We expected me to get 2x Salary for life insurance from his last employer. It turns out that once you hit 70, that number decreases enormously. He didn't even start working there until he was 75!!!

So far I will have to tap into my miniscule inheritance that I got from my parents. He always said that he didn't need that money and it was mine. I guess I will need it.. a lot. I hope it will help me pay the mortgage, etc. until we can get this whole mess straightened out!

P.S. The holidays are not helping... everything is closed....

Permalink Reply by kathy arocho on January 3, 2010 at 7:51pm

Sorry about your loss but I am having socail security problems that they froze my checking account and his name is not on the account only my sons. I get direct deposit and they couldn't put my pension check and my social security check thru. they claimed I received his benefit check which as of Dec 14th I didn't. Then after making a visit to them in person i was told it was fixed. Then three days later I was notified that they will leave me $400. from my Jan check. Next day I receive a check that they claimed I had.I put all papes from ss and bank statements in a folder to wait after the holidays to deal with this. Saturday I found out they froze my account again.Now I can't find this folder because Im overwhelmed and I'm a widow of only 6 weeks.I 'm short on cash ,can't find folder with check
I'll have to deal with this on Monday Stress is unbelievable

Permalink Reply by Priscilla on January 4, 2010 at 2:06pm

If you can, go to the SSA in person. I hadn't planned to, but I started crying when she told me there was still another form to fill out and there was nothing else she could do.

She then left for a long time. When she came back she said that they had finally gotten to the bottom of things!!! I could not understand the reasoning behind anything she said, but I should be getting another check... one for me, one for him. That is so asinine I can't get my head around it.

Why are they sending a dead person a check? I still expect to get a bill for $2 million some day.

I don't understand why they froze your checking account. We had a joint account and I'm glad I haven't said anything to the bank yet. I have also not told the mortgage companies yet (we have two mortgages). I'm afraid they'll show up and start moving my furniture into the street.

This is so horrible. Just when you need some good deeds (I've been a widow for 3 weeks), they really zap you! Good luck to you!