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With some pensions you can change the option with a change in circumstances, even if they say your choice is "irrevocable". If you select say the 50% spouse survivor option, and they reduce your pension accordingly, then that spouse dies before the pensioner, the pensioner can apply to have that changed and you might even receive a refund of all the withheld money. I have also seen a provision to change the pension if you had no spouse when you elected no survivor, but got married later.
This would certainly help me if my husband dies before me, especially since I will get no SS Survivors benefit. I figured I would go before him because of my multiple health issues compared to his at the time I retired. I know my pension does say "irrevocable" but I will check this.
No one interested in what you learned in 71 years no interest whatsoever
Everyone thinks I was just white and lucky
Don’t believe me? Ready my posts been at it since 2007
I'll start --
So far, the worst thing that has happened to me (us) has been my Hubby being diagnosed with Alzheimer's at age 64. It threw a wrench into everything right at the beginning. .
That's a tough row to hoe. Sending blessings your way...
In addition to losing my husband, I lost his pension, and of course his Social Security check, so my income is now 1/3 what it was when he was alive. None of this came as a surprise, but it sure made me make changes in my life.
This is a very real thing that happens to too many. Sorry to hear it happened to you.
I'm retired almost 8 years now, DH 6 years. We've been blessed, have lost a few family members during the last few years but that's to be expected at our age. We believe strongly in the continuation of life/consciousness after death so that helps us deal.
For us, a major downside of aging is witnessing the cognitive decline of loved ones. That's scary.
I'll throw in here with my post retirement tale, I retired in November 2007, my wife was coughing a lot two weeks prior to my last day at work. She was diagnosed with lung cancer and died within two months of my retirement. She suffered from ill health for years but we didn't think she was so seriously ill until the diagnoses, gone at 57..I wasn't prepared in any way for all of that grief, the new house we'd just bought was full of moving boxes still unpacked.
After reading the posts of others I now see how fortunate we were that she went quickly, she didn't have to suffer years of pain, and I moved on by myself, free to live the best way I could. I spent a few years alone and then met and married a very beautiful lady who had lost her spouse to lung cancer also. We live life to the fullest, and both of us are aware that we will go through that grief again at some point, we accept that as the price we will pay for the joy of spending our last years together.
So far, the worst thing that has happened to me - I hurt my back working on my house about 3 months after I retired. After I hurt my back, I could not walk for 3 weeks. Six shots in the back and I am able to walk but my balance is off and I can not walk far. I wobble when I walk. Looks like I have been drinking. LOL My left ankle is weak and the bottom of my feet are numb. I can not stand on my toes to reach anything. Driving for a distance, I need a pain pill. I do not want surgery as I have seen one of my friends after surgery and he is worst off - needing a walker to get around. I will not have surgery until it is absolutely necessary. It is not as bad as some but is sure cramped my life style.
So far, the worst thing that has happened to me - I hurt my back working on my house about 3 months after I retired. After I hurt my back, I could not walk for 3 weeks. Six shots in the back and I am able to walk but my balance is off and I can not walk far. I wobble when I walk. Looks like I have been drinking. LOL My left ankle is weak and the bottom of my feet are numb. I can not stand on my toes to reach anything. Driving for a distance, I need a pain pill. I do not want surgery as I have seen one of my friends after surgery and he is worst off - needing a walker to get around. I will not have surgery until it is absolutely necessary. It is not as bad as some but is sure cramped my life style.
Tramp --
So sorry about your fall. No fun to have back pain. I hope it will somehow get better.
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