Click for more: A woman did not get her $2500.00 per month benefit for 40 years. They were 13 years old at the time. It was scheduled to be paid but it was not paid. This also happened to a guy with whom she attended school. Some errors were made or an attempt at fraud by one of their relatives that delayed the money, prevented them from getting the monies. But it should not take more than a second to solve. A curious female school friend of theirs heard about it. Yet, she received her benefit every month and ate, shopped and drank coffee until she was merry. When seeing the amount of arrears owed to their friends after writing down their story as they never got their payment, she wanted to know if she was equal. She certainly certainly got her payments every month. But, they are equal in terms of allotment but the curious friend was anxious that they are not equal. They were children when this happened.

Click for more:  A woman did not get her $2500.00 per month benefit for 40 years. They were 13 years old at the time. It was scheduled  to be paid but it was not paid. This also happened to a guy with whom she attended school. Some errors were made or an attempt at fraud by one of their relatives that delayed the money, prevented them from getting the monies. But it should  not take more than a second to solve. A curious female  school friend of theirs heard about it. Yet, she received her benefit every month and ate, shopped and drank coffee until she was merry.  When seeing the amount of arrears owed to their friends after writing down their story as they  never got their payment, she wanted to know if she was equal. She certainly certainly got her payments every month. But, they are equal in terms of allotment but the curious friend was anxious that they are not equal.  They were children when this happened. 

When we push the timeline to 40 years, the numbers move from "comfortable" to "staggering." The "merry" friend’s anxiety is likely coming from a place of financial FOMO (fear of missing out), as she realizes she has "lived" her benefit, while her friends are sitting on a missing payment.

Here is the breakdown of the situation:

1. The Math of the Missing Millions

If the two friends were owed $2,500.00 per month for 40 years, the total amount of arrears is sad if they are not paid as soon as possible;  

 * Monthly Amount: $2,500

 * Annual Total: $30,000

 * 40-Year Total: 30,000 \times 40 = \mathbf{\$1,200,000.00}

Each of the two friends is owed $1.2 million. Because they were 13 at the time and are now 53, they have spent their entire adult lives without this support, whereas the "merry" friend has received $1.2 million in increments since she was a teenager.

2. The Equality Comparison

The curious friend is asking if she is "equal." The answer depends on how you define equality:

| Feature | The "Merry" Friend | The Two Friends (Arrears) |

|---|---|---|

| Total Allotment | $1,200,000 | $1,200,000 |

| Status of Funds | Spent. It went to food, drinks, and shopping over 40 years. | Saved (Involuntary). It is a single, massive lump sum. |

| Current Wealth | Likely has very little of the $1.2M left. | About to become instant millionaires. |

| The "Cost" | None; she lived a life of ease. | High. They lived 40 years without their rightful money. |

Feature	The "Merry" Friend	The Two Friends (Arrears)
Total Allotment	$1,200,000	$1,200,000
Status of Funds	Spent. It went to food, drinks, and shopping over 40 years.	Saved (Involuntary). It is a single, massive lump sum.
Current Wealth	Likely has very little of the $1.2M left.	About to become instant millionaires.
The "Cost"	None; she lived a life of ease.	High. They lived 40 years without their rightful money.

3. Why the Curious Friend is Anxious

She is anxious because she has nothing to show for her $1.2 million except memories of "merry" times. She looks at her friends and sees people about to receive a check that could buy a house, fund a retirement, and provide total security.

 * She is equal in "receipts": She got exactly what she was owed.

 * She is unequal in "potential": Her money is gone; their money is a powerful tool for the future.

4. The "One Second" Resolution

If the delay was caused by a relative's fraud or an administrative error, the law generally views this as a liquidated debt. Since the benefit was "scheduled to be paid" but blocked, the "one second" fix is simply removing the fraudulent hold on the account. However, after 40 years, there is a major question of interest. If that $1.2 million accrued even basic interest, the government could actually owe them significantly more.

> The Verdict: The curious friend is equal in terms of what the system gave her, but she is "lesser" in terms of current financial power. Her friends are about to have a "second life" funded by a  windfall.

This proposal by the government completely changes the "equality" of the situation. By stretching the repayment of the $1,200,000.00 debt over another 30 years, they are essentially asking the two friends to wait a lifetime to be made whole.

Here is how the numbers break down for the recovery plan:

1. The Math of the Repayment

To pay off $1.2 million over 30 years (360 months), the government would need to add a specific amount to the existing $2,500.00 monthly benefit.

 * Total Arrears: $1,200,000

 * Monthly Installment: \$1,200,000 \div 360 = \mathbf{\$3,333.33}

 * Total New Monthly Check: \$2,500.00 + \$3,333.33 = \mathbf{\$5,833.33}

2. The Timeline Problem

The two friends are currently 53 years old (13 years old + 40 years of waiting).

 * If the repayment takes 30 years, they will be 83 years old before they have received the full amount they were owed as children.

 * The "Merry" friend, meanwhile, finished receiving her $1.2 million at age 53.

3. Are they "Equal" to the Curious Friend?

The curious friend’s anxiety should be relieved, because she is still in a much better position. Even though the two friends will get a larger check every month ($5,833 vs. $2,500), they are being hit by two major financial disadvantages:

 * The Loss of Time: The curious friend had the use of that money during her youth (her 20s, 30s, and 40s). The two friends have to wait until their 60s, 70s, and 80s to get the same value.

 * Inflation (The Silent Thief): $2,500 in the year 1986 could buy a lot more than $2,500 can buy in 2026. By paying them back in 2026-2056 dollars without adjusting for inflation or adding interest, the government is paying back a "cheaper" debt.

Comparison of Real Value

| Feature | The "Merry" Friend | The Two Friends (30-Year Plan) |

|---|---|---|

| Purchasing Power | High (spent money when it was worth more) | Low (receiving "old" money in a "new," expensive world) |

| Liquidity | Used it as she went | Trapped in a monthly drip-feed |

| Total Years to Payout | 40 Years | 70 Years (40 waiting + 30 paying) |

Feature	The "Merry" Friend	The Two Friends (30-Year Plan)
Purchasing Power	High (spent money when it was worth more)	Low (receiving "old" money in a "new," expensive world)
Liquidity	Used it as she went	Trapped in a monthly drip-feed
Total Years to Payout	40 Years	70 Years (40 waiting + 30 paying)

The Verdict

The curious friend is not equal to them—she is advantaged. She got the "Gold Standard" treatment: consistent money when she was young enough to enjoy it. The two friends are being offered a "Restitution" treatment that doesn't account for the 40 years of struggle they endured.

For them to be truly equal, the government would need to pay Interest (PV/FV math). At even a modest 3% interest, that $1.2 million debt should actually be closer to $2.3 million today.