People frequently write to me with an idea to change Social Security law in some way that they think is clever and unique. But I usually have to tell them that their proposal has been considered in the past. After all, Social Security has been around for almost 90 years now, and for those nine decades, people have constantly been coming up with plans that they think would improve the system. And lots of times, those plans don’t work out under closer scrutiny. Here is an example.

Q: I have been a stay-at-home mom and housewife for the past 40 years. Other than a few years when I worked before I got married, I’ve never paid into Social Security. So I am due no benefits on my own record. I will only be due benefits on my husband’s record. I don’t think that’s fair. I should get some kind of Social Security credit for all the work I’ve done as a wife, mother and homemaker. So here is my idea I don’t believe I’ve ever seen before. I think a certain amount of money—maybe $1,000 per month—should be added to the Social Security record of all women who choose to stay home and make a career as a homemaker.

A: Actually, that’s an idea that’s been tossed around many times in the past—not quite the way you propose, but something similar. It’s usually called “earnings sharing,” and unfortunately, it wouldn’t work.

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