Who would pay for it? Me and no one else in my personal situation. If my husband were to take his money and pay an agency, they would be able to pay into their SS and Medicare so why shouldn't I be able to do the same thing? I am not asking for a handout, I am asking to be treated just like any other working, tax paying adult. Maybe an option for those of us who wish to retain our benefits. Please re-read my post and you'll see I want to pay them to retain my benefits.

You bring up a valid point. What about those who do not have the money to pay into their SS and Medicare? How about the money is taken out just like Medicare is taken out of SS? For example, since Jim's disability check comes in his name and I stay home to care for him, maybe they can take it out in my name or I pay them directly? We provide the proof through a doctors statement or something similar so they allow us to continue paying?

I don't have the answers, so many things need to be adjusted and taken care of. There is a huge possibility that SS will be gone in our futures and whoever decides the future outcome, we can only hope, gets it right. Caregivers who stay home to care for their loved ones do save the economy money, we do this for free or some do it for very little. My husband requires 24/7 care and we all know that type of care costs big bucks. Not to mention if he were in a nursing home, they (the nursing home) wouldn't even get their full charges back so they lose as well. Down goes the quality of care. But, that's another story and problem. lol

The main problem I see for those of us who care for loved ones at home is if we are not given the opportunity to help pay into our own SS and Medicare, we may very well end up using Medicaid for help if we become disabled. We all know that's a system in need of reform as well. I am very happy to see there is a caregiver bill out there that recognizes what we do is important enough to consider.

Tammy, please let us know if you find out anything. You are such a great woman and I know Craig is blessed to have you. We are praying for you both.

Social security will not be gone in our lifetimes. There will be changes , but it will not be eliminated. You should get work credit for taking care of someone. As you said if it was done by someone else they would be getting paid and costing money. Being able to get work credits is peanuts in comparison. Whenever a financial institution or corporation needs a bailout or subsidy they dont worry about the additional bureacracy that it entails. We need to reorganize our priorities.

Amen to that!

The same lack of work credits also applies to stay-at-home parents caring for minor children. Also, I believe that there is a law that does not allow wages paid by a spouse to take care of a spouse to be even covered by Social Security, just like a parent cannot earn credits for taking care of their own minor children as an employee of the other parent. If there was some exception made for the severely disabled who would be otherwise put in an institution, it would require a change in the law. And perhaps that will happen someday. Of course that will result in more rules with exceptions and more regs and more bureaucrats.

I believe that corporations that are mismanaged should fail. And the CEO's be held financially liable to the stockholders for their foolish and reckless decisions. That is capitalism.

I was a stay-at-home parent for 7 years and I lost my own SSDI insured status at that time. I gambled that I would not become disabled or that if I did, my spouse would be there to pick up the tab. I would not suggest that anymore. Wrap presents at Christmas; become a school crossing guard or lunchtime yard duty person; start a small home-based business; do income taxes for 4 1/2 months a year; work in a cannery or packing shed in the harvest season. Do something to earn 4 credits a year or save enough money to be able to support yourself if you become disabled or believe that the public assistance safety net will catch you when you fall far enough.