Social Security is an entitlement (wages, salary, retired, federal government)
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Using your own posted definition of entitlement, and reading the SSA's "Fleming v Nestor page, SS is NOT an entitlement, as none of us are owed or entitled to anything, if Congress decides we are not.
It is exactly a welfare program. It takes a specific tax from current taxpayers, and transfers that money directly to others who meet eligibility criteria. Congress can get rid of all of it anytime they want, for any reason, and you are entitled to exactly NOTHING.
I link the SSA's page because why take it from me when the government tells you exactly what you are NOT entitled to.
In Fleming v Nestor case his SS benefits were denied aka he was no longer entitled to them, because he was deported for being a commie.
So, we are entitled to the benefits unless Congress terminates the The Social Security Act of 1935.
Likewise, surviving spouses are entitled to their spouses benefits.
"Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld (1975) held that a male widower should be entitled to his deceased wife's benefit just as a female widow was entitled to a deceased husband's, under the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. "
My point here is to show people say its not an entitlement program simply because they don't like the word
Quote:
Originally Posted by Greenvalleyfan
It's a scam. My wife paid in for 40yrs.
She died, I received 250 bucks to bury her. I won't receive any of her money because I receive a pension.
Maybe you should look into it.
Survivors Benefits
Widow or widower, at full retirement age or older, generally gets 100% of the worker's basic benefit amount. Widow or widower, age 60 or older, but under full retirement age, gets between 71% and 99% of the worker's basic benefit amount. https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10084.pdf
You can argue the definition and application of the word "entitlement" however you like, it won't change whatever it is.
I like it, though I don't need it ( I have a pension, IRA distributions, and interest income ).
My only two complaints are ( 1 ) the cap, really should not be one, and ( 2 ) the pyramidal basis. It needs to be placed on a more sensible footing.
So what is it? Among other things it is an income redistribution scheme and some sort of "insurance" ... You can look at it selfishly, how it impacts you alone, or you can look at the bigger picture, and how it impacts everyone else. Is it fair to everyone, no. But is it unreasonable ?
In Fleming v Nestor case his SS benefits were denied aka he was no longer entitled to them, because he was deported for being a commie.
So, we are entitled to the benefits unless Congress terminates the The Social Security Act of 1935.
Likewise, surviving spouses are entitled to their spouses benefits.
"Weinberger v. Wiesenfeld (1975) held that a male widower should be entitled to his deceased wife's benefit just as a female widow was entitled to a deceased husband's, under the equal protection and due process clauses of the Fourteenth Amendment. "
My point here is to show people say its not an entitlement program simply because they don't like the word,
The issue is that some entities lump SS/Medicare with all the welfare programs and call all of them "entitlement programs".
DEMOCRAT candidates must be talking about cutting Social Security...the OP never mentioned any Republicans.
I know Trump has stated 10,000 times he likes SS just the way it is, and doesn't plan on making any changes.
Nikki Haley says the age should be raised for those people who are in their 20s tpoday, and younger generations. Its a way to save the program. Of course Trump, being a populist, would never suggest anything which might be unpopular, but we need fiscal responsibility if we want to be able to collect SS, let alone the younger generations.
Quote:
Originally Posted by TMSRetired
The issue is that some entities lump SS/Medicare with all the welfare programs and call all of them "entitlement programs".
And they aren't all the same at all.
No, they are not "same", but SS is an example of an entitlement program. I know people don't like the words "entitlement program", because its can be associated to hand-outs, but SS is not a hand-out, - calling it a hand-out would be a mischaracterization.
Boomers are the first generation to have paid into SS their entire lives.
And as such, boomers will also be the first generation to have paid in more than they will get back in their lifetime.
And likely reducing for each succeeding generation with solvency problems forcing higher retirement ages and cuts.
Retirement generally looking to be much worse for every generation after boomers with pensions going extinct.
Social Security started in 1935 when it was presumed that most working people would contribute while the previous generation that retired would get what they paid in. In theory it was a good idea except that 90 years later the balance has shifted to having more going out than coming in, for a variety of reasons.
The other problem is that the Government has borrowed $1.7 trillion From The Social Security Trust Fund to pay for other government spending. If it wasn't for the government using SS as a slush fund it probably wouldn't be in the shape it's in now.
There is a whole long list of how illegals can get Supplemental Security Income, including being admitted as a refugee and granted asylum, which no doubt is being taken advantage of and attracting these migrants like flies.
And likely reducing for each succeeding generation with solvency problems forcing higher retirement ages and cuts.
When SS first started it was for workers and spouses.
Look at who qualifies today for SS benefits...it got greatly expanded beyond what FICA can handle.
Over 3 million children are receiving SS benefits every month.
Only 74% of people on SS are actually retired workers that paid FICA taxes.
When the SS program expanded they should have upped the FICA to cover the additional expenses.
But they didn't.
And people wonder why SS isn't sustainable.......
67 million people received SS each month.
49 million are retired workers who paid FICA
Root problem was the presumption that we would keep reproducing like prior generations to keep the pyramid scheme going.
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