Not just retirement.(CORRESPONDENCE)(Letter to the editor)

Fraser, Arvonne S.; Crittenden, Ann

OLD AGE HAS ITS ADVANTAGES. Three paragraphs in Ann Crittenden's book review entitled "Do This for Mom" [October 2006] dealing with Social Security are wrong. It is only divorced spouses who have to have been married for 10 years before they can collect dependent benefits on the basis of the former spouse's earnings. Before 1977, it was 20 years, thanks to Congresswoman Bella Abzug who authored the bill that made that change. This is true whether the person is a parent or not.

Secondly, it was not the National Women's Law Center that "put forward many years ...