Saturday, March 26, 2011

Tempest in a teapot

Or, mountains out of molehills.  Remember how worried I was about a missing year of Cliff's wages?  The guy with SSI told us we needed to find the records for that year because it could make a difference in how much Social Security Cliff draws each month.  
Well, I dug through old income tax folders, but didn't find any older than as 1992; the missing year was 1986.  I talked to the IRS folks, but their records only go back eight years.  
So yesterday, Cliff called the Social Security number.  Now that in itself was interesting, because I usually do the calling about things like that; but we knew they would insist on speaking directly to Cliff, so he figured he'd just make the call himself.  He didn't know about the automated person with whom you have to carry on a conversation for about ten minutes before you can speak with a real person.  He didn't even realize it was a robot, so he'd start to explain something and the robot would rudely interrupt him.  This happened three or four times before it finally hit him what was happening.  I couldn't tell him, because he only has one good ear, and that was covered up by the telephone.  
He ended up talking to two different "real people", spending at least an hour on the phone.  But what finally happened is that a lady told him to estimate his income for the missing year.  That wasn't too difficult, because it was the middle year of three that he worked for R.B. Rice.  
Here's what we learned:  The worst that can happen is that Cliff draws what he was already expecting.  If SSI accepts the estimate for 1986, he might get more.  
Good grief, with all the years he's worked, and considering this missing year was back in 1986, how much difference could it make?  Maybe a couple of bucks, if we're lucky.  
So all that stewing and worrying was really for nothing.  It reminds me of an old saying I picked up years ago:  "Ninety-five percent of the things we worry about never happen."
Or, as Mark Twain put it, "I am an old man and have known a great many troubles, but most of them never happened."

8 comments:

  1. I spend most of my time worrying too and it's silly. (but I somehow can't help myself) It does make the relief that it worked out even sweeter. I'm glad that this tax stuff is resolved; I would have fretted about it also.

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  2. I'm as bad as Dad with the robot. I just spent more than 30 seconds looking for the "like" button. Too much FB.

    I'm glad it's no biggie!

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  3. I guess all you can say is that it was a learning experience. You'll probably never need that info again, but now you know it. Since I've retired it seems everyday is something new and I keep learning...most of it is good, thank the dear Lord. Hope your Saturday is a great one!

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  4. I recently received a statment from SSI about my earnings for my life. Have you ever received these? I get them, maybe every year.

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  5. Yes, Rita, Cliff and I have received them each year for a long time. His always had a zero there for 1986 earnings, we just didn't think anything of it.

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  6. Glad that the SS lady told you what to do. Hopefully it will be right.
    Helen

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  7. I love that Mark Twain expression you mentioned. That's exactly how I felt until I was in a car accident the other day. Glad you finally have a way to resolve the Social Security issue.

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  8. That is good news.

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