April, 2009______________________________________________                             McCormick Press

VOL. VI, Issue 4                               www.lostmypartner.com           www.lostmypartnerblog.com

                                          

The Lost My Partner Newsletter  

 

Brought to you monthly by Laurie Spector & Ruth Spector Webster, authors of Lost My Partner –What’ll I Do?  A Clear, Practical Guide For Coping and Finding Strength When Your Spouse Dies

 

 

This Month’s Feature: Some Survivor Benefits You May Not Know About

 

UPDATES FROM RUTH & LAURIE

 

Well, we’ve finally launched our blog! You can now get more of our tips and suggestions several times a week, as well as comment on what we have to say and share your own tips with others. Just go to www.lostmypartnerblog.com. If you’re new to blogs and want to leave your feedback, just click onto the highlighted “comments” at the bottom of each post (article). We’d love to hear from you!

 

This month’s feature article in fact, comes out of a blog topic we were  researching.    

 

Read more articles from our past newsletters anytime by going to www.lostmypartner.com.  

 

Our website also offers the opportunity to read a sample chapter from our recently released Lost My Partner-What’ll I Do? Revised and Expanded Edition. Find out more at: www.lostmypartner.com.

 

Please stay in touch and share any ideas or suggestions with us. We can be reached at: contact@lostmypartner.com

 

Thanks for joining us.

Ruth and Laurie

 

 

MONTHLY FEATURE

 

Some Survivor Benefits You May Not Know About

 

If your spouse/partner has died, or if you’re a widowed mom or dad, you’re probably familiar with your basic Social Security benefits.

 

You may not be aware however, that if your divorced spouse has died, you can receive benefits as a widow/widower if the marriage last 10 years or longer and you are age 60 or older (or age 50 if you are disabled).

       

Under certain circumstances, the following survivors may also qualify for benefits:

 

• Step-children, grandchildren, or adopted children.

 

• Dependent parents age 62 or older.

 

Check out www.socialsecurity.gov for more information. The site tells you what paperwork you’ll need and how to apply.

 

If you were in a same-sex marriage or domestic partnership, your state may also offer survivor benefits. Go to www.findlaw.com to learn more about the laws in your particular state. This is generally a great site for answers about a wide variety of legal issues.

 

Never assume you have no rights or benefits. Always check it out!

 

 

YOUR QUESTIONS

 

“My late wife’s family has always included me in their holiday dinners. This year though, they haven’t asked me to join them for Easter dinner as usual. There’s been some friction with these relatives over the provisions of my wife’s will (which I had nothing to do with), and I suspect that plays a part in this situation. What should I do about this upsetting problem?”       Charles R.

 

It’s understandable that you’re feeling upset by this. Being pushed away by former in-laws can feel like yet another loss on top of what you’ve already experienced. Wait and see if there are any attempts by these relatives to reach out to you at a later time. In the meantime, arrange to share Easter dinner with your own family and/or friends.

 

 

Discovered a coping strategy that works for you? Share it with others in future newsletters. Email us at: contact@lostmypartner.com

 

If you enjoy this newsletter, please tell your friends and/or colleagues about it.

 

You can order either edition of Lost My Partner – What’ll I Do? from our website: www.lostmypartner.com.

 

Telephone toll free at 1-877-727-3814.

 

 

(Copyright 2009 by Laurie J. Spector, M.S.W. and Ruth Spector Webster, M.S.W. All rights and all media reserved.)