Posted by Roberta on July 04, 19101 at 14:59:31:
In Reply to: SURVIVOR'S BENEFITS DOWN THE DRAIN posted by Deb on July 02, 19101 at 12:08:27:
Deb,you mentioned having gone to the local union. Have you tried contacting the national union? Sometimes you can get better results there. You can, perhaps, address a letter to the president of the union, who might then redirect it to the the best person to handle your problem.
: With my Mother’s aging, I have become more and more involved with her finances. This was my discovery this past year.
: My Father retired (1983) as a faithful member of the Brotherhood of Painters, Decorators & Paperhangers.
: From his “Official Membership Book” starting in 1947, (I have all of them), it shows each month the amount of dues he paid and the signature of the local’s secretary. Also, in each payment book appears the name of the beneficiary, my Mother.
: In 1986 my Father died. Upon my Mother’s call to the local union office to inquire about death (burial) benefits, she was informed that she was not entitled to my Father pension because “she signed a waiver or spousal consent”.
: My Mother remembers my Father handing her something, wanting her to sign so he can receive his pension. Being a trusting spouse, she signed unwittingly!
: I don’t believe it was my Father’s intentions to destitute my Mother after so many years contributing to this pension.
: I certainly believe if my Mother knew upon my Father’s death, she would receive nothing, she would not have signed.
: My Mother is the type of person, if the union representative said she signed a “waiver” and there was nothing anyone could do, then so be it. With pride and embarrassment, she has been living on just her social security ever since.
: Any help would be appreciated. I am looking for:
: Any information, class action or otherwise that has reversing this injustice.
: Other surviving spouses faced with this same dilemma.
: A good Pension Lawyer in Southern California (lol).