After a judge told an 84-year-old man that he had to keep working to pay alimony and couldn't retire, Massachusetts ended permanent alimony. Permanent Alimony should terminate at retirement because it's unfair to older Americans who can't afford to pay.
Virginia requires spouses to pay permanent alimony and this denies older Americans the right to retire
For an average wage earner, Social Security benefits are $27,432 a year. According to the IRS, average alimony is $20,985 a year. During retirement, less than $7,000 remains i.e., the receiving spouse forces the paying spouse to live in poverty.
Among those Americans with a disability, 40 percent are over 65. The employment rate for disabled workers somewhere below 50 percent. The average monthly disability payment is $1,130 a month, enough to live above poverty but not to pay alimony. The average wait to receive the first check is 1 ½ years.
In 2014, almost half of those unemployed over age 55 had been unemployed for 27 weeks or longer. Unemployment for the average worker is $1,512 a month for 26 weeks. Older workers spend more time searching for work, accept lower wages, become discouraged and give up.
Under Virginia law, only a receiving spouse can terminate alimony and can pursue legal action against those who can't pay..
Virginia statute states, "Upon conviction, a person shall be punished by a fine or confinement in jail for no more than 12 months." Virginia pays $168,000 per year to confine someone who's only fault is a failed marriage.
Sam Brittingham
Virginia Alimony Reform
Virginia Beach