Q & A
Letters/Q&A
1. Divorce and Social Security:
Were you married for ten years, now divorced and not remarried? Did you know you may be able to collect social security on your ex husband’s account?
Check the answer to this question on this AARP site or directly on the SS website. Look to Investopedia when taxes and other legal issues might be involved. Because this circumstances often involve a higher earning spouse who is male; it is important for stay-at-home moms or lower paid working women to know their specific rights concerning their own social security questions. It is important to read the qualifications carefully and phone or get in contact with your local social security agency should you have any questions. You can reach then by phone, email, or snail mail. Use the general SS website for getting in touch. Most important, collecting social security on an ex spouse’s amount is legal, paid for, may not be revealed to the spouse if you do not wish and may be collected until full retirement age or beyond, depending upon the circumstances.
see also:
WISER: Women’s Institute for a Secure Retirement: divorce/ This site is also useful for many questions regarding women’s financial security
The Motley Fool: Divorced? Here’s How it Will Affect Your Social Security Benefits.
2. Getting Lawmakers to Listen:
Who is my representative? Who are my senators? How did they vote on the Cares Act, Build Back Better and other issues?
You can find out who your national representatives are by going to House.gov and simply putting in your zip code. To find your Senator, go to Senate.gov and fill in your state. Both sites provide some details about each official. To follow the voting patterns of both senators and congress-people; go to govtrack.us.
These sites provide ways to reach your representatives and senators. Every single senator and congressperson, without exception, has said that the only way they can know the priorities of their constituents, is for YOU, and I, to write, email and fax your opinions on issues which concern you on a regular basis.
see also:
ProPublica: How to Get Your Lawmakers to Listen: This is an excellent publication on political and social policy
How to have Political Influence as an Average Citizen: This is an excellent article from Alex Gustafson at the University of Washington. The article also has a list of references on the topic.
3. Best charity and giving during the Pandemic
How to find out which charity gives the most money to their cause?
Whether your interests are local, national or international, the best way to determine which non profit or charity puts the greatest percentage of their monies toward their charitable goals, as opposed to overhead; is to turn to Charity Navigator. This is an organization which provides an annual ‘best charity’ list as well as detailed explanations of specific charitable spending. The Navigator rates over 160,000 charities and has been collecting data on giving patterns for almost twenty years.
Fidelity Charitable :Covid-19 and Philanthropy: How donor behaviors are shifting amid the pandemic: This includes guides and tax considerations about “giving” during a pandemic.
NPR: MacKenzie Bezos Pledges To Give More Than Half Of Her Billions To Charity: This is the extraordinary story of the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and her unique and generous approach to philanthropy.
Philanthropy Roundtable: Philanthropy Roundtable on Covid-19: This is more a discussion on patterns of giving by large donors than on a citizen’s giving patterns or the availability of funds.
Chronicle of Philanthropy: Covid-19 Coverage: Fundraising During the Epidemic: This is also more for those attempting to fundraise during the epidemic.
Sample questions upcoming in CivicSources:
I don't like the public schools in my neighborhood. Can I send my child to the public schools in a nearby neighborhood?
I’m having trouble registering to vote, who can I call to work this out?
