No Money For Old Men

When Americans turn 62, they are entitled to start collecting social security. This is money which we pay into the system over the many years of hard labor. We all get annual reports that explain how much we should expect to get from the gubmint every month for the rest of our lives.

The happy retired old man images I have always conjured up are like the guys in Cialis ads

Since I worked as a teacher where we have a separate California pension, I did not contribute to social security during those years. As a result, because of my other employment during my life, I can only expect to pick up about $400 per month.

So of course, I applied the other day. The online form contained many pages of questions which I uncharacteristically answered with complete honesty. I then sat back and relaxed, waiting to start piling up the shekels.

But, whoa there cowboy, it does not work that way.

I got a communication that I was to contact a Donna Adams at Social Security to discuss some "issues"

When I attempted to return the call, all I got was a recorded message that all the agents were busy and that I should call back or leave a message. So I kept calling back, like 100 times, always getting the same result.

I started to smell trouble brewing.

Finally I left a voicemail and asked Donna Adams to email me with her questions.

She dutifully did that today. Donna queried me about my California teacher's pension and also had some unnerving questions regarding my former spouse, Marilyn. Again, I responded with integrity.

My gut is telling me that because I already get a pension from California, which I paid in to, I will have my 400 dollars reduced significantly. I think in the end, I will get zero.

Which I suppose is what I deserve. I'll report the result in the near future.