If a retired couple on fixed annuities show combined income lower than 150k, depending on location, the new rates can be a huge difference. I wouldn't categorize them as "lower" income.
Nor would I, but "lower" is a relative term. Some one making $300K a year or more would consider $150K to be "lower," I imagine. Unfortunately, I don't have that "problem."
But not as tough as convincing a majority or Representatives and Senators to press the 'LIKE' button.
I believe that was a civil war pension. The practice was for a civil war vet in their latter years to marry a teen family friend. He died in a few years and the teen bride received his pension until her death. That was stopped a hundred years ago by legislation not allowing the pension to carry over past the wife you were married to when you filed for the pension.
In the UK that went the other way in the 21st century with UK civil service pensions. In light of the realities of modern life, subsequent spouses are now entitled to half of their spouse's pension when he/she passes on. Not really that big a deal as most UK civil servants cannot collect their pension until they are 60.
