Social Security history - PA

[Bethy]

I'm not sure which forum to put this under. Once a year I get a full Social Security list of what I earned each year from the time I started at age 16. If someone has a "0" next to the totals for 6 consecutive years, does that mean they earned nothing or that they didn't file their income tax? Does being self-employed make a difference? No, it's not me, but someone who is in deep doo-doo if it's either of my suspicions.

 

[cbg]

It means that nothing shows as having been reported to the SSA. Whether that means they earned nothing, or they and their employer didn't report what was earned, or whether the information was correctly reported but due to a clerical error the SSA doesn't show it properly, is something we cannot tell from here.

 

[Bethy]

self-employed

he's been self employed for many years....I recently married him only to find out months later that he was in deep deep debt - I could only bail him out so far, but then I saw the SS history and I wondered if his "job" was bogus too. I'm feeling like a sucker right now.

 

[mitousmom]

If he was self employed, it was his responsibility to pay the Self-Employment (SE) tax to SSA through filing his yearly federal income tax return with the IRS, reporting his self-employment earnings and paying the required SE tax. You need to take a look at his income tax returns to see if he did any of that.

Although, you didn't ask and it's really none of my business, I can't resist asking "why are you bailing him out?" Is he in deep, deep debt because of fiscal irresponsibility or something beyond his control?

 

[Bethy]

long story for a short time

Looking back, I should have let his home go into foreclosure...it's still unfinished and needs alot of TLC. But his credit was horrible (he did tell me it wasn't great, but I had no idea someone could have a score below 500) and nobody would give him a loan. I make 40k but am debt free....I (again, stupidly) agreed to take out a small loan (only 1/4 of what he wanted) so they wouldn't take his truck (about to be repo'd, and he needed it for his job) or foreclose his home.... My money "help" has stopped until I'm paid back, and that feels horrible to say that being married, but I've got 2 college kids and am feeling foolish about now.

Personally I think his financial situation is his own financial irresponsibility.....had rough times through a divorce about a dozen years ago, but he likes his toys (nice tools/equipment) too. He wants a nice boat next (50k type) but I'm not adding to that "pool"......and no more loans.

 

[Some Random Guy]

Never loan money to a friend unless you plan on losing it or if you have the debt secured by property (like his truck). Even then, you should file the lein to make sure that the property cannot be paid without paying you off and you should be prepared to foreclose on your friend.

 

[mitousmom]

This guy is not simply a friend, he's her husband.

 

[Some Random Guy]

dang it, I didn't realize that the "someone" from post 1 switched to "husband" in post 3.

I wondered if his "job" was bogus too. I'm feeling like a sucker right now.

You need to know your husband better if you plan to live with him for the rest of your life. What does he say when you asked him about his "job" or not paying taxes for 6 years or his debts?

If he is still hiding things from you and is dragging you down financially, then perhaps he is not committed to your marriage and things need to change.