Social Security

[E7]

If you really want to get things fixed, put congress on the same plans (social security, medicare) as the average US citizen. Hades is likely to freeze over before that happens.

[E7]

How can anyone save anything, when they're paying off ridiculously huge student loans for college? This is just another way Republicans are keeping most Americans in wage slavery. My father served as a Marine during WWII, and afterwards went to USC on the G.I. Bill - all expenses paid. The Republicans have been cutting the benefits of the G.I. Bill for decades. Does it exist at all, anymore?

Correct me if I'm wrong, but haven't there been a few (or more than) Democratic administrations in there between the GOP guys? What have they done to fix things???????

[healey36]

Medicare is forecasted to go bust in eight years. The government only acts when there's a gun held to its head, so maybe in 7-1/2 years we'll get some sort of action. The issues with Social Security are solvable, but we have to pay for it. Medicare is a quagmire...not sure what can be done short of a massive increase in the tax, combined with some form of means-testing and a rationing of services.

[up148]

Didn't read the whole thread, so if this has been stated before, just pass it by.

I think vetting SS recipients could save the system a whole lot of money. When I made my one and only personal visit to our local SS office (it's required) about 5 years ago, I was amazed to see so many (more than half) of the people in the room (maybe 100+) who were in there late 20's to maybe 50 years old. More than a few Hispanic mothers with 3-4 kids in tow, who went to the spanish speaking window. Some complete dirt balls, who kept popping in and out to see where their number was on the electronic list. Guess they had to go out and get a toke, they sure looked like it or worse.

Two late 20's, maybe early 30's white guys sitting next to me, discussing the fact that the cola increase wasn't enough last year, all the while they were playing with their phones, wearing very nice clothes and expensive tennis shoes. Looked like two strapping NE or KS farm men and when they went outside I saw no issues that would put them on SS.

Just another system terribly broke in our country. Give SS to the people who earned it and then seriously vet those who apply for some other reason. We have too many freeloaders, taking advantage of the goodness of our society and the system isn't catching them. OPINION.

bh

[E7]

Just another system terrible broke in our country. Give SS to the people who earned it and then seriously vet those who apply for some other reason. We have too many freeloaders, taking advantage of the goodness of our society and the system isn't catching them. OPINION. bh

Agree. I put I put in 42 years at some pretty unpleasant jobs, so I have NO qualms about taking my monthly pittance.

[Rufus T. Firefly]

If you really want to get things fixed, put congress on the same plans (social security, medicare) as the average US citizen.

Actually, they are eligible for SS and all the rest of these programs. Over 65.5 with your quarters in, they can apply just like anyone else that qualifies.

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Do other countries have anything like Social Security in the USA ?

[healey36]

A bit dated, but see here, Murph:

https://www.ssa.gov/policy/docs/progdesc/ssptw/2012-2013/europe/index.html

[MurphOnMillerAve]

Thank you, Healey. I had no idea so many countries had such coverage. Good to have learned that.
Murph

[E7]

Actually, they are eligible for SS and all the rest of these programs. Over 65.5 with your quarters in, they can apply just like anyone else that qualifies.

I worked a job classified as NAF, as in Non Appropriated Funds. A guy who had worked an AF (appropriated Funds) job retired and then came on with us as a NAF employee. He mentined that he got his guv pension, but was not able to apply for SS. I figured it would be the same for the BIG fish, plus why would they want benefits (as in Medicare) inferior to what they had? I guess the 64 dollar question is can they collect BOTH their retirement and SS?

Sen. John Blutarsky

[E7]

FWIW:

https://www.senate.gov/reference/resour ... L30631.pdf

[Rufus T. Firefly]

Actually, they are eligible for SS and all the rest of these programs. Over 65.5 with your quarters in, they can apply just like anyone else that qualifies.

I worked a job classified as NAF, as in Non Appropriated Funds. A guy who had worked an AF (appropriated Funds) job retired and then came on with us as a NAF employee. He mentined that he got his guv pension, but was not able to apply for SS. I figured it would be the same for the BIG fish, plus why would they want benefits (as in Medicare) inferior to what they had? I guess the 64 dollar question is can they collect BOTH their retirement and SS?

He was wrong. He could, and they can, but then they deduct that amount from the Gov pension. Years ago, you could collect in full from both if you qualified for them. Once upon a time there were even triple dippers getting military, gov, and private sector SS..... Actually, a Gov employee that qualifies for SS can get that paid while still working, but it all gets deducted back from the Gov pension later.

I actually do have my quarters in for SS, but itt's not worth the complications; eventually I do get Schedule C Med....someday.

As for the BIG fish, most are millionaires.......or worse. They are really tiny fish when it comes down to the actual numbers in the pool.

[E7]

He was wrong. He could, and they can, but then they deduct that amount from the Gov pension. Years ago, you could collect in full from both if you qualified for them. Once upon a time there were even triple dippers getting military, gov, and private sector SS..... Actually, a Gov employee that qualifies for SS can get that paid while still working, but it all gets deducted back from the Gov pension later.

Might have been that he said he didn't get SS and not that he couldn't. After 14 years sitting directly in front of a Diesel engine, my hearing was and remains pretty well screwed (even wearing hearing protection). The NAF retirement is NOT that bad a deal if you have the years in, but i started too late in life. Ramps up after about 20 years. They also give a COLA, and in about three centuries, I will be living high on the hog.

[robert.]

Our local police officers to not get Social security from their regular duties. They can earn it from private jobs. They can do these private jobs in police uniforms. When you see an officer working a construction site. He is paid by the contractor. Contractors that repair roadways Rent of duty police officers and patrol cars. You see these cops just standing along a work zone with their police cars. They are on the contractors dime. Well still our dime it's all included in the job bid. They can be hired to patrol shopping mall also.

[Roy]

Our local police officers to not get Social security from their regular duties.

Don't they get a pretty good pension?