Financial help for 63 year old widow and citizen. Is there help out there?

How did you find out what her benefit would be? What would it be if she waiting to take it later? For example, would it be higher at 65 than now, even if she doesn't continue to work?

She will not be eligible for SS on her own behalf if she has not paid into it. Her husband would not have been eligible for SS because he hadn't earned enough credits. BUT (as I understand it, and I am NOT an expert) his widow or minor children could still be eligible for some payment. When I had questions about Social Security for myself I emailed them through their website, and they set up an appointment to have a phone conversation. They were extremely helpful and courteous. I think that is the route of inquiry you and Mom should take. If there is any benefit she is entitled to it probably won't fully meet her needs at this time, but she should get whatever she is due.

Does TRS have a disability benefit? Or did the district offer a disability policy? I think that angle is worth looking at. Would she qualify as disabled? If so, she is probably eligible for Medicaid benefits. In some states Medicaid is automatically offered to disabled persons, and in others it has to be applied for separately.

If it is any consolation, these issues and difficulties apply those of us who have been citizens by birth. The systems are complicated, and it can take a lot of digging to find the solutions. Your mother is lucky to have you to help advocate for her.

i was too shocked to find out that her retirement payback was so low. She works in a school cafeteria. Health is definitely an issue now and hence unable to work anymore. Is there no exception to social security benefits?

Good point, I assumed she was unable to work

Contact the local Teachers' Retirement System office for help in understanding what your mother is eligible for now, and whether/how much more she would get if she works longer.

Many people (including me!) would like to retire but cannot afford to. Is your mother no longer able to work? Does she have some disability? Health issues? Please explain more. If she is healthy and able to work there will not be many programs to subsidize her retirement. She will be eligible for Medicare in a couple of years, and that should help a lot with her medical expenses.

If she is not healthy and able to work, then Medicaid may be an options.

Explain her situation a little more, so we can give you more specific suggestions.

I just thought of one thing that may be a problem with the TRS. It used to be a person had to teach 5 years to be vested in TRS and 25 years to be fully vested. I don't know how long it is now. Still, after 20 years I would expect her payment to be more than $100 unless she was an occasional substitute teacher.

TRS is the Teacher's Retirement System. Each state has one. Employees can choose to opt out of SS and get only TRS. I have never heard of TRS being this low before for someone working 20 years. There must be some error somewhere. TRS is usually very good as a sole source of retirement for people living a modest life -- much better than SS.

I am not sure what TRS is. Is that a state pension? I am surprised it is low, if it is a state pension for 20 years. Did she not work full time?
Social security is a pay-in program, so a minimal contribution is required prior to collecting. If neither she nor her spouse contributed sufficient periods they are not eligible.
I am not sure why she would not qualify for Medicaid, as that is on a need basis.
Note the difference between Medicare and Medicaid.
If her income is very low she may be eligible for government assistance such as welfare and food stamps, but social security is probably not an option.
Government programs provide a relief, but they do not fully fund a desirable lifestyle.
Hopefully she achieved the American dream, that your children are better off than yourself and you will be in a position to help her as well.
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