What You Should Expect from Social Security

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Please defend our social security benefits and cost of living increases. I worked 48 years. Even worked 2 jobs for 7 1/2 years to pay into the funnd. Also, please do not support the "death panel" and cutting physians are difficult to find already for medicare patients.

Mary Shuhart of AL 4:50PM January 04, 2011

The announcement that yet again, current recipients of Social Security will not receive a Cost of Living increase, makes me angry!!! Very, very angry!!! Every time I go to the grocery store or any other store for that matter, I am shocked and get angry about the increased prices. My precious Mother worked two jobs and paid into the system, and receives about $600.00 a month in Social Security. Add to that, approximately $600.00 a month in retirement. She is trapped in a dilapidated mobile home, that cannot be heated or cooled effectively, and the utility bill is outrageous. Now figure in the cost of medical and prescriptions; even with medicare and her insurance, she struggles to meet the co-pays and out of pocket costs. I know why so many people are having to decide whether they can eat or get their medicine, just from the cost of my co-pays on my meds. I'd like to see, and think the American Public should demand that EVERY SINGLE GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL, THE PRESIDENT INCLUDED, SHOULD HAVE TO LIVE FOR A MINIMUM OF ONE YEAR ON $1200.00 A MONTH, AND..... pay the bills people like my precious Mom has to pay. Then I'd like to ask them if they should approve a "Cost of Living" increase for my Mom and others who have retired and never had a "Silver Spoon" in their mouths.

LaVerne Weiss of TX 6:43PM October 25, 2010

The projections and statistics that are often cited when our Social Security program is discussed are based on studies that were completed in the 70's. A time when our United States population was only 245 Million, a time long before the computer age and a time before we had the second "baby boom" that began in the late 80's and continued during the '90's. In fact, in 20 years, our United States population is projected to become 385 million.

Also, we currently have a 2.5 Trillion dollar Surplus available in our Social Security Trust Fund -- and in twenty years, (if we let the program continue, just as it is), the amount of our Surplus is expected to increase to 4.3 Trillion. Plenty of funds are available for all of our citizens. This isn't a give away either -- with every paycheck you receive, you invest in FICA -- the Insurance Plan that was created to ensure that in the United States its sacred promise would always be upheld, "America Takes Care of Its People!"

Social Security is intimately connected to our Inheritance – and is one of the provisions within the "Social Contract" and our "guaranteed, Right to Life." And it was our own grandparents, who applied and invested their energy, efforts and time to develop these freedoms, this Legacy and Inheritance for us.

Remember, when we were children, all those gold stars that our parents and teachers gave us; along with the promise that they told us, that when we grow up that we could decide what we wanted to be, receive the education and do whatever we wanted to do, with our lives, (to earn a living and build our futures). "Reach for your dreams" they told us. "You can be and do anything!” -- This is what they were talking about – our Inheritance, the Legacy that they worked so hard to provide for us.

Right now, today, you can become a cosigner with hundreds of our Representative's and Senators, and thousands of our fellow main street citizens to guarantee the protection of this program for our grandparents and parents. And to guarantee that the funds that are available now are kept safe and financially maintained to be dispersed to us when it is our time to receive them. To include your name on this document, as we join to protect our Legacy and American Inheritance for generations to come and to ensure that the efforts of our grandparents and parents are honored and the promise that was made to them is upheld; visit: http://bit.ly/bx8xhs .

Protecting our Legacy and Inheritance, Is a Fundamental American Right!

Suellis Kelley of CA 5:21AM October 20, 2010

I think this person has the right train of though when it comes to YOUNGER SS

retirement persons.Also the rule on over the cap at 106,800 has to go pay taxes on all earnings.

r.coleman of TN 7:29PM October 19, 2010

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Alpha Consumer

Kimberly Palmer, senior editor for U.S. News & World Report, writes about making smarter financial decisions. She’s the author of Generation Earn: The Young Professional's Guide to Spending, Investing, and Giving Back.

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