Spousal IRA revisited

[redwoodreturn]

I too would like to think that receiving monthly benefit checks from Ralph's pension does not make him an active participant in his retirement plan, but may I ask what makes you sure?

[dmertz]

From IRS Pub 590-A (<a rel="nofollow" target="_blank" href="https://www.irs.gov/publications/p590a/ch01.html#en_US_2015_publink1000230462">https://www.irs.gov/p...>) :  

Situations where you are not covered.

Benefits from previous employer's plan.   If you receive retirement benefits from a previous employer's plan, you are not covered by that plan.