Aunt never "worked"

[Anonymous]

She was a SAHM and even though she was/is working and saving all day, she never earned a paycheck. They do have savings, home and uncle's 401K but she shared that she worries if somehow they lived beyond their savings, it would be tough to live on just one society security check and not being eligible for medicaid and medicare, highly likely for health issues and taxes to drain their savings so what are her options?

[Anonymous]

Your post is hard to understand.

Your aunt is eligible for medicare even if she didn't work and pay in because her spouse did work and pay in.

[Anonymous]

Why would she not be eligible for Medicare?

Primary home and retirement savings can be exempt from Medicaid asset limits. Read up on that and you might feel better.

[Anonymous]

Is your uncle dead? Did he divorce her? Your post is missing some details.

[Anonymous]

if her husband is eligible for social security and they are legally married, she is entitled to a spousal benefit and Medicare on his record.

[Anonymous]

Wouldn't she get survivor's benefit from her DH's social security?

And yea, she would qualify for medicaid if they are low income.

[Anonymous]

Just looked up and forwarded some info to her. They aren't low income but she is afraid as they are figuring out post retirement issues.

[Anonymous]

I think she is afraid of bringing up the topic with Uncle as he is dealing with health issues and post retirement depression and she doesn't want to add to it.

[Anonymous]

The median net worth of households in which the head of household is 65 or older is a little more than $250,000. That means half of households in that age group have more money, and half have less.

https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/average-net-worth-by-age

I don't know what your aunt and uncle have, obviously, but perhaps this data will persuade them that there are many seniors who are doing worse in terms of finances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think she is afraid of bringing up the topic with Uncle as he is dealing with health issues and post retirement depression and she doesn't want to add to it.

Maybe he would be happier if he understood that his wife can be on Medicare and have SS.

[Anonymous]

How old is she? Could start working for pay (that's the terminology you're looking for, BTW) now.

[Anonymous]

What is the point of your post?

[Anonymous]

How old are your aunt and uncle?

[Anonymous]

The couple might benefit from talking (preferably in person) with someone from Social Security. Find her local field office and its number; make an appointment, don't drop in.

[Anonymous]

I don’t understand this post. My wife never “worked” either. Not only is she eligible for Medicare like any other American at 65, she’s eligible for 50 percent on top of the 100 percent that I will get in Social Security once I start taking it. It’s called the “spousal benefit.” Look it up, OP.