I think I know the answer to this question (yes), but I'm not 100% sure. The question is: Can my wife open a $2K Roth IRA? Here is the situation. She lost her job in Dec of 1997, however she did not have her 'official' termination until mid Jan 1998 due to a screwup at the company. At that time she receive her vacation pay (about $800) with some 401k money taken out. She also had her pension rolled into an IRA early in 1998. The only money she has receive in 1998 (other than the amount at termination) is about $5.5K in unemployment compensation. BTW, she still has the 401k with the former company. If I read the IRS's IRA publication correctly, even with no pay in 1998, she can still have a $2000 IRA. I make over the $4K needed to have a full $2K spousal IRA for her and a $2K IRA for myself. I am concerned that the pension or 401k she had in 1998 might be a problem. Can she have a Roth IRA?

Thanks

Rusty Nelson