8 Possible Social Security Benefit Changes

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Social security will never be fixed until it is taken off the budget. It has already been fixed a number of times and after the legislators spend all of the money , they borrow more and continue to increase our national debt .

Dick of OK 6:36PM November 11, 2010

I have been very upset with our so called Government and all the Politicians in this Country for a very very long time. When I was a child it was a much easier way of life because the people who ran our Country then believed in our Constitutional rights and were fair and caring people. Now as I vote for these so called Politicians I stand and wonder which one I should vote for because I'm not sure which one is less corrupt than the other. Whatever the out come is you can be sure of one thing we will be screwed to the wall one way or the other. Our Government does not care about the Declaration of Independence~~We the people, by the people and for the people. I am very sure Our Fore Fathers are rolling over in their graves because of the fact the people who run this country have literally thrown out everything this country every stood for since the beginning when they fought for our Freedom on our own soil. May God Bless America because we need him to fight for us as some of us fight to keep God and Country together. Just for the record I was forced to go on disability which has now turned into SSI and if it weren't for friends and family who are struggling themselves I probably would stare to death and so far in this process I lost 40 lbs. May God Bless this Country because no one else will.

Maryann Stilwell of PA 3:24PM November 11, 2010

We all know where there is extra government money and that it is going into the politicians' pockets. The time has come for government officials to look at their unrealistic health plans and retirement benefits. The American people are footing the bill for individuals--many of whom are millionaires--who can well afford to pay for their own health insurance. Time to look at everything, Washington!!

Marie A. Mayer of PA 2:49PM November 11, 2010

I don't know if all are aware of this,but the government has had their hands in the cookie jar raiding Social Security Funds for years and put the dollars in the general fund for wars such as Iraq and Afganistan. They call this Social Security Surplus,except their isn't a surplus now and they are running scared because they have raided our Social Security Fund for years. Social Security belongs to the people not to Washington politicians. They owe this money to all who have contributed to this Social Security Retirement Fund. Why should we all suffer with new rules or benefit cuts because of the irresponsibility of politicans who have made unjust wars and use Social Security Funds to fund their wars benefitting war profitteer groups. This raiding of the Social Security Fund for wars started with the Vietnam War,and was never removed.

Sandy Jenkins of NY 5:35PM November 10, 2010

I have worked since was 17 and now im disabled because of a place I worked at got me ill, breathing in toxic fumes, I never knew and now they say I may not live past 10 years. It has affected my stomach, lungs and kidneys. I never wanted to go on ssi but my illness caused me to have 5 strokes and I was paralized for 6 months, we should be able to sue companies who cause us to get this sick for more than 10 years, well I was told can't sue over a certain time limit, they got me sick and im very mad about that, the ruined my life and I really need to be on ssi but can't live on it, have to rely on other people to help me thru...just had to get that off my chest..

lyn of MO 1:04PM October 15, 2010

I worked as a substance abuse counselor for over 16 years, 9 of that in the Dept. of Social Services. I have worked 43 years total. During my working career I raised a family and managed to go to school at night, earning a Master's Degree. I have seen the abuse of government resources and our tax dollars first hand. I have raised questions often receiving the response, "as long as they provide the paperwork requested, they get the money........we have to take what they tell us." People came into the welfare office using fake addresses, some of vacant houses, etc. After utilizing their so called "60 months of Temporary Cash Assistance", they were often prompted to look into disability since "they apparently could not work". I am not faulting the truly disabled. We should all have compasion on our fellow man. However, I believe those who can work for a living should and pay their fair share of taxes and social security. Why is America seeing so many young adults applying for social security disability benefits. Many times they list anxiety,depression, and numerous mental health disabilities as the reason. Often they are grooming one another as to how to beat the system and how to behave and what to say in order to get a mental health diagnosis. It has become a joke. I am angry at a population that is so lazy they dare to lie, use their children as crutches to obtain services, and curse you out as the worker if you dare question the validity of their claims. We need more fraud investigation and follow up in agencies like Social Services and the Mental Health field. Alcoholics and Drug Addicts have a problem that ONLY THEY CAN ARREST...........I did treatment for years with very little true long term success. Addicts stay clean long enough to get through the judicial system or to pass a urine test. Then when they think the eyes are off of them, back to using again. We need to address the way our society enables this population to continue to be the blood sucking leeches they are.

Carolyn of MD 9:40AM September 29, 2010

I have worked two jobs all my life..42 years in all. I payed into social security from both. Unfortunatelly Social Security has become a welfare fund for many people. I am not talking about people that have worked all thier lives,and I am not talking about people that are (ligamitely disabled. I am talking about the drug addicts,and alcholics, which I have worked with for forty years who have learned how to maipulate the system. We have these bleeding heart Social workers,(not all) who give away the farm. They state these people have a disease. I totall disagree,if you are incur a disease through no fault of your own,that's one thing. If you decide to shove powder up your nose,or put a needle in your arm,or drink,that's your problem.

Why should the tax payers support these morons habits. These addicts collect disability social security,and stay on it forever. The rule was in the beginning. TO COLLECT,YOU MUST PUT IN...IF YOU DON'T TO BAD. There are millions of people working,and paying,and the system should be there for them. One thing more,if you have worked for a private pension,you should not be penalized for this. I have to declare 50% of my social security for taxes,and then other people come in under the wire,and pay nothing. SOCIAL SECURITY SHOULD NOT BE TAXED PERIOD!! People pay taxes all thier lives,when you retire,you should be left alone. I don't have a problem paying taxes on my pension,which I worked 40 years for,but I don't think I should have to pay taxes on Social security. Lets get all the trash,and manipulators out of the system,and we all be better off

Mike of FL 4:51PM September 11, 2010

We generate all the negative opinions about the government and often ignore the ever present meandering cast system forming in America. the social security system was set up to relieve the taxing effects of old age on families.to hear it talked about today it is an investment system set up to provide added security to the strongest earners of our society.

Society is a group of people who contribute each to its own ability.

we have weak people, strong people, bad people good people, but sorting them out is very difficult and often subject to our ever present prejudices. This guy is no good that lady is too black, this guy is a drunk, that lady never worked hard, this guy is too rich that lady stole from her husband...whatever.

You don't have to be a communist to see the justification of social security as an "insurance policy" against the ravenous impact of economic instability which is the rate of our social structure. We are not socialists, communists or welfare liberals we are people with real needs. we live in the riches nation in the world full of food, minerals, airable land and freedoms over abundant.(sorry I really don't see freedom as over abundant but comparably.)

We ahv3e social security so that our aunts and uncles wont knock on our door with their shopping carts at two A.M. begging for a place in from the rain, the cold, the heat, the pain. We can haate of love our fellows but look at them it costs very little to feed and house them. Social security does not quite provide that. that's right social security pays less than rent and food.

Why?

We have too many social services trying to do the same job. If gong3ess wants to cure the ills of our system they will get of their political minded butts and create a logical social welfare system under one roof. Yes, against all the anti socialist complaints. A simple system as proposed by President Nixon like guaranteed national income which would give a survivable wage to every living American and and be automatically Governed by the banking system.

Every Anerican would be required to have a bank account and th4e taxes would deposit into each account a sum each month. Those who work get the money, those who don't work get the money. Guess what it would cost the taxpayer, (including Social security one-third as much as the present system an everyone would get $12,000 EACH YEAR. IF IT IS ENOUGH DON'T WORK.

But you will all pay less taxes when you do work. It is the administration and politics of our giveaways that cost the money. Lets. reduce the cost then argue the changes in the next step.

In closing note today's news that 65% of Americans are now getting food stamps . I don't believe it either.

Jay X. Zupa of IA 7:06PM August 03, 2010

I agree with Tony of AR.. .the govt. has borrowed over 2+ trillion dollars from the SS Stash. .which should have been invested and continued to collect big bucks to keep this program in a Plus and not heading for a red zone. . I also am a retired fed. employee in the old system. . but understand back years ago we were mandated by congress that we must pay into medicare. . .BOOM. . .no and if's or buts about it. . Nice doing corrupt Washington. . and yet the drug addicts and others who initiate their own problems. . get benefits. . WOW isn't that great. . the dems have a gravy train out their on our dollars for the one's that refuse to work and contribute. . the one's that continue to have more and more illegitimate kids and we pay for that . . food. . .low income housing. .medical benefits. . when does this govt. start saying NO. . .This new generation coming up will never have the get up and go to work. . fight and win and protect the way we have. . It is obvious from the 1st landing to this new world and continued. . until. . .suddenly the schools teach propaganda. . they don't value our history. . the accomplishment of the pioneers. . and their were many many . . inventions. .it goes on and on. . a country to be proud of. . this current administration and congress with the phony dems. ..in the bed with the unions just want to give it all away. . everything we worked for. . their use to be gradification when we bought our first home. .graduated from H/S . . or technical school or college. . we paid back our student loans. . and went out worked hard. . and tried not to overspend. . This new generation wants what it took us many years to gain. . they want it immediately. . their isn't much get up and go. . and you cannot depend on them to support s.s. many just plain work and quit. . live off welfare.. work some more. . yet we have many good kids thanks to their parents. . who hopefully will carry on what we have done. . and make it even better. . Vote out the dems. . the union lover croonies. . get rid of this so called health care and revamp it the right way. . and most of all. . small govt. .we can be a self supporting nation. . and most of all get out of the dirty rotten corrupt UN. . .and the IMP. .

josey of MD 7:32PM June 07, 2010

Jake of Ohio and Elizabeth of AZ certainly should do a little more research before they put their idiotic thoughts down for all to read. I am a retired government employee and paid into social security as well as my government pension. My government pension is secure, but Social Security reduced my benefits to allow me to get an insignificant amount more than if I had worked Social Security all my life. Not only that, when I fill out the form on Social Security in order to do my taxes, I take half of my SS and put it on the line, then I have to add my government pension to that, plus interest and any other wages. So, Jake & Elizabeth, if you are on Social Security you get a break because your SS income is halved and mine is halved and then I have to add my pension. Notice the tax benefit you get? AND why should I be grateful to collect my social security insurance that I paid into all my life? I really don't get that. I wonder what your comments would be had you paid a life insurance premium on your spouse and when he died they said "sorry we don't have the money". Why do you want to give the government a break? I guess you think that all the unemployed people should consider themselves lucky to be on unemployment, too. And just because you think we have it better than people in other countries (which is debatable), doesn't mean that we should go backward. SS should have been put in that lock box a long time ago and if we can borrow from the Chinese and others for everything, then we should borrow from them again and put our money right back in SS that was taken out and guess what, we wouldn't be having this discussion now.

phyllis of FL 10:04AM February 15, 2010

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The Best Life

Philip Moeller, contributing editor for U.S. News Money, writes about achieving success and happiness in older age.

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