I was watching a video about a stay-at-home mother who had lost parts of three of her limbs. She had worked for nine years before she and her husband decided it made more sense for her to stay at home with their children. They have 5 of them. When she lost her limbs, they filed for SS disability. She didn't qualify, because she had not worked during the last 10 years. People who choose to stay at home to care for people are put into a vulnerable position. Even if they work all day, it is like they're considered social freeloaders who don't qualify for any services in the US. A good solution would be for the family to contract the services of the care provider, be it a stay-at-home mother or a elder caregiver. That way the care provider would have SS credits for the work they are doing.
We often hear that mothers and caregivers do things out of love. Well, you can do things out of love and still be paid for them... or at least not lose your benefits in the country. This love thing has to work both ways.
The older generations are probably set in their ways of thinking women-work is done for free. Maybe the younger generations can start having contracts to make sure the mothers and caregivers don't lose their benefits. It would cause much less financial devastation if a husband dies or leaves. And caregivers could take care of the elders without potentially putting themselves into poverty. Makes sense to me.
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