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Mountain View News Saturday, November 8, 2025

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Safe Path for Seniors. Our compassionate advisors 
specialize in assisting individuals with unique needs. 
Benefit from our extensive network and affordable 
options. Plus, we offer personalized tours to help you 
explore each community firsthand. 

Call (626) 999-6913 or visit www.safepathforseniors.
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SENIOR HAPPENINGS


HAPPY BIRTHDAY! NOVEMBER Birthdays*

Flo Mankin, Alberta Curran, Carmela Frontino, Kathy Wood, Lena 
Zate, Joe Pergola, Janice Kacer, Valerie Howard, Lois Stueck, Jean Wood, 
Shirley Yergeau, Pat Krok, Irene Nakagawa, Anna Ross, Mary Steinberg, 
Mary Bowser, Susan Clifton, Mary Higgins, Kim Buchanan, Leigh Thach, 
Sue Quinn, Jill Girod, Jeanne Martin.* 

To add your name to this distinguished list, please call the paper 
at 626.355.2737. YEAR of birth not required 


EMBRACING THE SEASON: Autumn Reflections for Seniors

As the crisp air of autumn settles in and the trees turn brilliant shades of gold and crimson, the season 
offers seniors a special opportunity to slow down, reflect, and connect. Fall is more than just a change 
in weather—it’s a time to celebrate the warmth of community, the comfort of routine, and the beauty 
of life’s ongoing cycles.

For many older adults, autumn brings fond 
memories of family gatherings, harvest celebra-
tions, and preparing for the holidays 
ahead. It’s also a wonderful time to stay active 
and en-gaged. Simple activities like walking 
among the fallen leaves, attending a local 
craft fair, or baking seasonal favorites such as 
pumpkin bread can bring joy and purpose.

This season also reminds us of the importance 
of connection. As daylight grows shorter, 
it’s easy to feel isolated—but reaching out 
to friends, family, or community groups can 
make a world of difference. Senior centers, 
churches, and libraries often host fall-themed events that offer companionship and fun.

Health-wise, autumn is an ideal time for seniors to check in on wellness routines—getting flu shots, 
reviewing medications, and ensuring homes are safe and cozy before winter ar-rives. A warm blanket, 
a good book, and a cup of tea can turn chilly days into peaceful mo-ments of rest.

Above all, autumn encourages gratitude. Just as trees let go of their leaves, this season re-minds us to 
release worries and cherish what truly matters—love, laughter, and the simple joys of each day. For 
seniors, fall is not an ending, but a beautiful chapter of reflection, connection, and renewal.


OUT TO PASTOR 

A Weekly Religion Column by Rev. James Snyder

UNDERSTANDING SOCIAL SERCURITY SPOUSAL BENEFITS

TRUTH IS AS THE TRUTHER SAYS


Dear Savvy Senior,

How do Social Security spousal benefits work? 
My wife, who’s approaching age 62, has had a 
few small-paying jobs over the years, but spent 
most of her time as a homemaker. What is she 
entitled to? Primary Breadwinner 

Dear Breadwinner,

Spousal benefit questions are among the most frequently asked and confusing parts of Social Security. 
The rules that govern qualifying and claiming are knotty, and there are many exceptions. But understanding 
how these benefits work is crucial for maximizing your family’s retirement income. Here’s 
what you should know.

What Are Spousal Benefits?

Social Security spousal benefits are designed to provide retirement income to spouses who either 
didn’t work or worked sporadically/part-time and earned significantly less than their spouses over 
their working lifetime. A stay-at-home parent is a good example of a spousal benefit recipient.

Who’s Qualifies?

To qualify for spousal benefits, you and your wife must meet three conditions: Your wife must be at 
least age 62; you must be married for a year or more; and you must already be collecting your retirement 
benefits.

Different rules apply for ex-spouses. Ex-spouses (if you were married for at least 10 years and are not 
remarried) can receive a spousal benefit based on an ex-spouse’s record even if your ex has not yet 
filed for their own benefits, but your ex must be age 62 or older.

How Much Are Spousal Benefits?

The amount your wife would get for spousal benefits will depend on your earning’s history and her 
claiming age.

The maximum spousal benefit is 50 percent of your Primary Insurance Amount (PIA), which is that 
amount you’re entitled to at full retirement age benefit (FRA). But your wife will only get that much if 
she waits until her full retirement age to file, which is 67 if she was born in 1960 or later.

Unfortunately, spousal benefits cannot be increased by her waiting beyond FRA, but they are reduced 
by taking them early. So, for example, if your wife were to start collecting her spousal benefits at age 
62 (the earliest possible age), she would collect only 32.5 percent of your PIA.

To calculate exactly how much your wife’s spousal benefits would be reduced by taking them before 
her FRA see SSA.gov/OACT/quickcalc/spouse.html.

You also need to know that because spousal benefits are based on your PIA, even if you (the primary 
earner) retire early, before you reach your FRA, your wife’s spousal benefit will not be reduced. Just as 
they will not increase if you delay claiming your benefits beyond your FRA.

You should also note that if your wife worked and is entitled to benefits on her own work record, 
but it’s less than what she’s entitled to as a spouse, Social Security will pay her the higher of the two 
amounts, but not both.

Survivor Benefits

In addition to spousal benefits Social Security also pays survivor benefits to spouses and ex-spouses 
starting at age 60 (50 if disabled).

So, if your wife outlives you, she’ll be able to switch from her spousal benefits to survivor benefits 
and receive a higher payment. Survivor benefits range between 71.5 and 100 percent of the deceased’s 
benefit, based on your wife’s age when she claims.

There is, however, one exception. Surviving spouses and ex-spouses that are caring for a child (or children) 
of the deceased worker, and 
they are under age 16 or disabled, are 
eligible to receive 75 percent of the 
worker’s benefit amount at any age.

Online Calculators

There are several online calculators 
that can help you and your wife figure 
out the best time to claim your 
benefits to ensure you get the highest 
possible lifetime payout. One 
that’s completely free to use OpenSocialSecurity.
com. Or for a more 
thorough analysis use MaximizeMySocialSecurity.
com. This tool, which 
costs $49 for a year, will run what-if 
scenarios based on your circumstances 
to find your best strategy.

Send your questions or comments 
to questions@savvysenior.org, or to 
Savvy Senior, P.O. Box 5443, Norman, 
OK 73070.

One thing I have learned in life is that for many people, truth is a 
relative thing. The truth is what they say it is, and you can't convince 
them otherwise.

I wrestle with telling the truth all the time. If you tell the truth, you do not have to 
remember what happened. But when you lie, you have to have a good memory of 
what the last lie was. Unfortunately, I do not have that kind of memory.

What I do remember is good old Uncle Dan. Now, he was not a biological uncle 
in that sense. But he was so much a part of our family and our family gatherings 
that everybody treated him like an uncle.

Everybody in the family really loved Uncle Dan. He had a charm about him that 
nobody could re-ally refuse. He wasn't married and had no siblings, so, apart 
from my family, he had no family. We gladly welcomed him into our family circle.

What most of us liked about Uncle Dan was his humorous stories. He never ran 
out of stories to tell, and they were all hilarious. He was so funny I believed he 
could have been a comedian, but we accepted him and enjoyed his comedy.

Uncle Dan has been gone now for at least 20 years, but I still remember quite a 
few things about him. Of course, my memory is focused on his stories. For every 
family gathering, he had at least one story to tell.

As soon as Uncle Dan began one of his stories, he had our attention.

We all laughed almost uncontrollably while he told his story. We didn’t know at 
the time, but we laughed because he told different versions of the same story. It 
was when he went fishing at the lake. I don't know where it all started, because it 
was always a different lake.

At the time, nobody realized he was telling the same story, just different versions. 
Every time he told the story, it turned out differently from the story before.

My cousin and I were the first ones to realize what good old Uncle Dan was doing. 
Whether Uncle Dan knew he was doing it or not, I will never know.

After one of his storytelling episodes, my cousin and I were together, I looked at 
him and said, "Wasn't that similar to the story he told the last time?"

My cousin looked at me, scratched his chin, and then said, "You know, I think 
you're right. That was similar to the one he told last time, and the one he told 
before that, and the one he told before that one. They all were similar."

Together, we laughed as only cousins could. We couldn't wait until the next family 
gathering with Uncle Dan. We wanted to see if anybody else caught on to what 
Uncle Dan was doing.

My cousin and I agreed that Uncle Dan probably did not know he was changing 
these stories every time. To him, it was like he was telling the story for the very 
first time.

Several years after he passed away at our family gathering, I brought up the 
subject.

"I sure miss Uncle Dan stories. They sure were very entertaining." Then the family 
group laughed together and smiled. I could not help it, but I had to take it one 
step further: "Do any of you know what Uncle Dan was doing with his stories?"

Nobody understood what I was saying. One person said, "They were very funny 
stories and I enjoyed every one of them."

I then presented another question, "Can anybody tell me how many stories Uncle 
Dan told?" A silly chuckle ran through the crowd, and finally someone said, 
"He told us a new story every time we got together. I don't remember how many 
stories he told us." I looked at my cousin and said, "Mike could you answer that 
question?" With a hearty chuckle, he looked at the family group and said, "Uncle 
Dan only ever told one story throughout the years."

Nobody in that crowd understood what we were saying. But as we pursued in 
that direction, one family member said, "You know, that thought occurred to me 
about 10 years ago when he was telling his story. They all sounded similar and I 
couldn't put it together."

My cousin and I laughed together, and soon everybody said a profound "awe.”

The rest of that family gathering was very interesting as people began to remember 
similarities in Uncle Dan's stories. Everybody thought he was telling a different 
story every time we gathered. I don't believe Uncle Dan was lying to us; he 
didn't understand the truth as it really was.

Remembering Uncle Dan and his "story" helps me see truth differently. Was he 
telling the truth? And was that truth from his perspective?

In thinking about Uncle Dan’s stories, I was reminded of what Jesus said about 
the importance of telling the truth.

“Then said Jesus to those Jews which believed on him, If ye continue in my word, 
then are ye my disciples indeed; And ye shall know the truth, and the truth shall 
make you free” (John 8:31-32).

Uncle Dan’s stories were just entertainment. However, the Word of God is not 
entertainment but the basis of all truth. When I know God’s truth, it will set me 
free from everything else.

Dr. James L. Snyder lives in Ocala, FL with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage. 
Telephone 1-352-216-3025, e-mail jamessnyder51@gmail.com, website 
http://www.jamessnyderministries.com 


Mountain Views News 80 W Sierra Madre Blvd. No. 327 Sierra Madre, Ca. 91024 Office: 626.355.2737 Fax: 626.609.3285 Email: editor@mtnviewsnews.com Website: www.mtnviewsnews.com