Stuart A. Bronstein said:
(e-mail address removed) (Dick Adams) wrote:
In California there is what appears to be an odd law. While being
domestic partners is generally limited to gay couples, heterosexual
couples can form domestic partnerships if one of the partners is 62
years or older.
Why do that? Well, Social Security is subject to a family cap. So
many married couples receive less SS together than they would
Individually if they weren't married.
So California came to the rescue - those couples can switch from
married to domestic partners. Doing that they would continue to have
all the rights and responsibilities of married couples under state
law, but would not be married under federal law, so are not subject
to the SS cap.
Should that go in your forthcoming book, "Shacking Up for Fun and
Profit"?
The title is "Living in Sin for Fun and Profit". With the exception of health
and hazard insurance, I believe you can contract you way into almost all
of the legal benefits of marriage without even resorting to a domestic
partnership.
"Polygamous Cohabitation and Other Strategies for Social Security Recipients"
is the title of my next book. One strategy will be for those on SS Disability
to adopt orphans who will minimize back pain of Senior Citizens by picking up
stuff off the floor for them. Plus Seniors who have non-SS income will get
the benefit of filing as Unmarried Head of Household. One major benefit will
be to finally have children who listen to you!
Don't worry about the "Polygamous Cohabitation". Once you're old enough to
quality for SS, nobody should claim it's immoral. If someone does, just tell
them you're pro-choice across the board.
Dick