Spouse’s retirement funds given to others

Thomas E. Zinn, Morgantown
I am a seventh-generation Morgantown native, born and raised here. I am 83 years old and retired from the military. I am a widower and have lived alone for a long time.
My wife, Mikell, died here in 1998. She had “contributed” her hard-earned money to Social Security as required by a “voluntary law” that was changed to a non-voluntary law.
She died by a heart attack in 1998, two months before being eligible to draw her retirement from Social Security.
Oh, foolish me. Since it was her money, and since I was her heir, I went to Social Security to ask for her money that she was forced to contribute.
I was briskly told that her money was no longer her money; it was the government’s money. Call it what you want to call it, but to me that is called “theft” and a Ponzi scheme, forcefully taking from those earning money and giving it to those who are retiring, or have other problems (Supplemental Security Income), or those who have not contributed anything to the fund.
I protested to Social Security, and its representative said, “Well, if you want her money, we’ll give it to you, but we’ll keep your money.” Since my retirement was more than my wife’s, I turned down the offer.
Did you know about this? Well, now you do, so don’t be surprised as I was when the government keeps your deceased spouse’s money and gives it to someone else.