Letter: Retired government employee disputes ‘double-dip’ reference

Friday, Sept. 4, 1998 | 11:49 a.m.

Twenty years ago, after my husband had 10 eye surgeries and lost the use of his left eye, I decided to go back to work. I applied for a job with the state of Nevada.

I put a portion of my salary into a retirement program so I would receive a modest pension at age 65. Little did I realize that my husband would die of cancer. When I filed for Social Security at age 65, the amount I was to receive was reduced by two-thirds of my state retirement.

I am thankful that we had set aside a separate annuity, as I would find it difficult to live on the amount of my state retirement and Social Security. I would love to have $4,000 a month to survive on. If Laird is young enough, perhaps she should set up a 401(k) or other type of retirement so she can live high on the hog when she reaches 70.

She might also write her congressional representatives to change the laws giving SSI, Medicaid and Social Security to illegal immigrants, legal immigrants and welfare recipients.

Most of us retired persons over the age of 65 do not "double dip." We are also thankful for Medicare.

Loretta Eichelberger