Marriage's Financial Pros and Cons

Social Security marriage tax

Why does no one mention the tax penalty for married couples

on Social Security benefits?

Two single people living together could each earn $25,000 including half of their Social Security benefits & pay NO taxes on their benefits.

A married couple only gets a total of $32,000.

In addition the single person pays on only 50% of the first $9000 over $25,000 while the married couple goes over that limit at $12,000.

Next year when my wife & I both have to take minimum withdrawals from our IRAs we will have to get a divorce & live together because of this problem.

In a way I am kind of looking forward to the excitement of "living in sin".

Lee of CA @ Mar 04, 2009 04:27:03 AM

votetruth of WI

"Marriage inequality can't hurt children"

Uh....yes it does. So pay my taxes until the FEDS decide I am equal to you.

John Bisceglia of WA @ Feb 14, 2009 04:26:42 AM

PENSIONS(TOO MANY RULES)

I was married for 21 years before my ex decided to leave me for my friend.Anyway,he also works for the railroad and according to the retirement board,I can only collect my half of his pension if I dont remarry!So much for my hopes!What kind of stupid rule is that,I couldnt make up that money on my own because I was too busy raising our 4 kids,thats what I get for all my hard work.At least the kids turned out good-LOL

patty of IN @ Dec 14, 2008 08:10:14 AM

its wrong and disgusting

of @ Oct 20, 2008 17:23:39 PM

marriage on being on ssi boyh

I m 67 if i marry a 60 year and we are now on ssi what happens to the income status do we still recieve our ssi or how does it work

kent mcneel of TN @ Oct 19, 2008 12:03:51 PM

GAY MARRIAGE

I think gays should be allowed to marry. This way they., like the rest of us, can share in the suffering.

john Q public of CA @ Sep 11, 2008 15:20:04 PM

Wrong on Social Security

The article included this assessment: "7) Social Security benefits go to the surviving spouse. Widowed spouses, as well as those who divorced after at least 10 years of marriage, are entitled to their spouses' Social Security benefits if they are greater than their own, says Kathryn Dickerson, a partner with Smolen Plevy, a Vienna, Va., law firm."

Unfortunately, the above is not true. As the Ms Palmer observed early in the article, the federal government does not recognize gay marriage. Social Security is a federal program, and nothing in its regulations entitles a lesbian or gay partner to collect benefits based on their same sex spouse's work record.

bethflorida of FL @ Aug 03, 2008 23:11:51 PM

bisceglia

Marriage inequality can't hurt children. Gays can't have kids. If they adopt, that is a risk they are aware of in adopting; they may disadvantage their legal children by bringing them into a "new-age" idea of what a family may pass for. Frankly, they shouldn't be given the opportunity to be brought into such a home.

votetruth of WI @ Jul 31, 2008 17:46:26 PM