Social Security should only go to those who NEED it

[DisneyBamaFan]

According to experts, the shortfall in Social Security is manageable. Medicare is more critical problem.

Right - they are using "fuzzy math". It is not manageble. Do the math yourself. It is pretty simple.

What they are doing is assuming that our economy will continue to grow at a rate that is absurd. Our economy is shrinking right now, not growing. The year 2041 is based on an economy that no longer exists.

You want to trust people who will not touch this because they know it will cost them their jobs, go right ahead. I'll trust my own math...

 

[RitaE]

Maybe someone more familiar with the specifics can help. My wife has an aunt who was married to the father of her children for about 15 years, and to another man for about 5. She was allowed to pick between the two when she was old enough to collect. She chose the former because his benefits were higher. The former spouse's benefits were reduced as a result until the day he died - but I am not sure by how much...

No, a person's benefits are not reduced when their divorced spouse makes a claim against their earnings record.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

No, a person's benefits are not reduced when their divorced spouse makes a claim against their earnings record.

Thank you - I'll assume that you know this for a fact. It seems absurd, doesn't it?

 

[DisneyMomOK]

I don't deny that. I believe that something broken should be repaired not scrapped though.

It's interesting to me that in this day of mindless handouts to corporations and the like, we are discussing people not receiving a return of any kind on their investment. Social Security is an investment but it was supposed to be a safe one. I don't see why hoping for some return is somehow selfish.

 

[RitaE]

Thank you - I'll assume that you know this for a fact. It seems absurd, doesn't it?

From SSA.gov

The amount of benefits your divorced spouse gets has no effect on the amount of benefits you or your current spouse may receive.

http://www.ssa.gov/retire2/yourdivspouse.htm

 

[BuzznBelle'smom]

Fair? Only those crying that they "deserve" to get back because they paid in are crying about "fairness".

Look, I am going to be fine, no matter what happens. I do not fear poverty. I am prepared for whatever comes. And my boys are being raised to be just as flexible. But those out there who want their pound of flesh - who think that they are owed something by America - are in for a world of hurt.

When your children and grandchildren are begging in the streets, look in the mirror for someone to blame. Are you slefish? I do not know you. But if you think that you are doing the right thing by making these types of demands of your government - that you have "earned" it - then you are a part of the problem. Of that, I have no doubt.

This is not a personal attack. There are over 100 million Americans who feel just as you do. That is why America is doomed...

But see, this is what you're missing. I'm demanding nothign from the governmnet. Instead, the government is MANDATING that 15% of my salary get dumped into this program--a retirement program that will, at best, return to me 2% on my investment. I didn't ask for the program. If I could opt out right now, on both paying and receiving, I would do so. I would give up all that I've "invested" over the last 20+ years, for me and my husband. I'm only owed because that was the "deal" that was made when they took the stupid money in the first place. it's a lousy investment, one that I would never have chosen if I had a choice, but I didn't. So, yeah, that makes me greedy because I upheld my end of the deal, and I'll expect the other side to hold up theirs, as well.

We save on top of this. When we started in the work force, we knew SS was unsustainable. We'll have millions to retire on despite the government's best efforts--money that we'll use, and pass on to children and grandchildren. So, if they're begging in the streets, it won't be due to our "greed", thanks for your concern!

This has been a crappy program that is a poor investment for decades. The retirement age should have been indexed to life expectancy. Politicians are too chicken to say what needs to really be done to fix this problem.

I'm just getting really, really tired of people blaming the achievers for having more.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

From SSA.gov.

Kind of like forcing an employer to pay for alimony, isn't it? Only our government could be this stupid...

 

[dwdad]

I believe Social Security checks should be cut for only those who need it. Example: I know someone whose husband died and left her with a couple of million. She STILL collects a social security check. In today's economic times especially they really need to make cuts where they can, and believe me many wouldn't even notice if they stopped getting the checks. I know, they supposedly "paid in", but people need to make some sacrifices in this economy and this would be an easy one to make.

Why don't they qualify social security recipients and those who are worth a million or more no longer get to collect?

My parents have just retired. They made good, not great money, but yet managed to be great savors and created a nest egg of $800,000. I would assume this would be the type of person you feel should not receive SS. They worked very hard to save for their retirement and did not live beyond there means to accomplish this. On the flip side their neighbors, who made the same type of money all the lives, lived beyond their means and have nothing saved for retirement. SS is there only method of retirement at this time.

Should my parents be penalized for being great savers, and the spenders next door get a government payment? Those who do things right would be penalized under your system. Those who payed in should get the payout.

I do believe things need to be changed in the system, but to penalize babyboomers who did things right is not American.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

But see, this is what you're missing. I'm demanding nothign from the governmnet. Instead, the government is MANDATING that 15% of my salary get dumped into this program--a retirement program that will, at best, return to me 2% on my investment. I didn't ask for the program.

But the government has made no promise to ever give you a cent in return. Read the SS Act. Your politicians make empty promises every day. SS tax is just that - a tax. If it were anything else, there would be laws on the books guaranteeing your payment. For some reason, the American people refuse to see through this charade. They refuse to see because the reality - that they are owed nothing - is just too ridiculous given the rate of taxation.

I'm just getting really, really tired of people blaming the achievers for having more.

I blame no one except those who refuse to do what is necessary.

I am an IT Director. I am taxed beyond belief. But I am willing to give it all up - all of my claims to SS - even my 401k - if it would allow the America that I grew up in to survive for my children and their children. I would gladly take my mother and my wife's parents into my home if the cut in their benefits made it necessary.

I would sacrifice everything for my boys...

 

[Nancyg56]

If you pay into SS you should be able to collect when eligible. I know that if eligibility was determined by income and my income was such that I would not be eligible then I would have a hard time watching my portion taken from my check. If once I receive it I choose to donate it, that is my choice. Programs that are means tested should be forced on anyone to pay into. We already have safety nets for those who need additional assistance and I help to fund them.

 

[RitaE]

Kind of like forcing an employer to pay for alimony, isn't it? Only our government could be this stupid...

Not really.

Since this primarily effects women, you might want to look at the statistics of the percent of Senior Citizen women who live in poverty, even with the "awesome" benefit of Social Security. It is simply a recognition that in a one paycheck family, a portion of those funds belong to the non-paychecked spouse. It hasn't even been that many years that Stay At Home spouses have been allowed to save for their old age in tax deferred accounts.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Not really.

Since this primarily effects women, you might want to look at the statistics of the percent of Senior Citizen women who live in poverty, even with the "awesome" benefit of Social Security. It is simply a recognition that in a one paycheck family, a portion of those funds belong to the non-paychecked spouse. It hasn't even been that many years that Stay At Home spouses have been allowed to save for their old age in tax deferred accounts.

I think you misunderstand me. The women deserve their share. It is my contention that the men should get less...

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

...Programs that are means tested should be forced on anyone to pay into...

This would eliminate virtually every other social program run by our government. The only 2 substantial government programs not means tested are SS and Medicare. The last time I checked, paying my taxes was not an option...

 

[FoundMyPrince]

I believe Social Security checks should be cut for only those who need it. Example: I know someone whose husband died and left her with a couple of million. She STILL collects a social security check. In today's economic times especially they really need to make cuts where they can, and believe me many wouldn't even notice if they stopped getting the checks. I know, they supposedly "paid in", but people need to make some sacrifices in this economy and this would be an easy one to make.

Why don't they qualify social security recipients and those who are worth a million or more no longer get to collect?

Don't tell me it's their patriotic duty.

 

[S. C.]

I told my mother, who turns 65 this year, that she could move in with me if she would just agree not to accept her SS payments. I would pay all of her bills, and she could keep my father's retirement benefit for whatever she wanted. She decided not to accept my offer.

And what would happen to her if you were to die before she does?

Look, I am going to be fine, no matter what happens. I do not fear poverty.

Not everyone has that luxury. There are lots of working poor in america that live in poverty already and work everyday.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

And what would happen to her if you were to die before she does?

LOL - my wife and I joke about this quite a bit considering how fortunate I am to be alive even now. Let's just say that I have plenty of life insurance.

Not everyone has that luxury there are lots of working poor in america.

Almost everyone in America was among the "working poor" before these social programs were "born". Somehow they managed to take care of their loved ones without government help...

 

[S. C.]

Almost everyone in America was among the "working poor" before these social programs were "born". Somehow they managed to take care of their loved ones without government help...

And they had 7% more of there money to keep.

What would you suggest people do that are forced to pay into a program that is making minumum wage in todays job situation? Stand on the street corner with there canes in there old age begging for money?

Sounds like you have been making good money for quite some time now. And I mean no disrepect but it is much easier to say there is a way when your not the one that has to find it and deal with it.

 

[S. C.]

LOL - my wife and I joke about this quite a bit considering how fortunate I am to be alive even now. Let's just say that I have plenty of life insurance.

What if the insurance companies go bankrupt? Something you have paid into for years and years hoping for a return for your family to help them. Then when it comes time they say "too bad so sad"

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

And they had 7% more of there money to keep.

What would you suggest people do that are forced to pay into a program that is making minumum wage in todays job situation? Stand on the street corner with there canes in there old age begging for money?

Sounds like you have been making good money for quite some time now. And I mean no disrepect but it is much easier to say there is a way when your not the one that has to find it and deal with it.

I don't think that individuals can find their way out of this mess. We will do it as families, as communities, and as a people or our country will collapse. This is a mathmatical fact. I wish it were not so, but wishing will get us no where.

We dug this hole, now we must climb out of it...

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

What if the insurance companies go bankrupt? Something you have paid into for years and years hoping for a return for your family to help them. Then when it comes time they say "too bad so sad"

That is what we have family for. Nothing in this life is promised to us - not even tomorrow...