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- Re: Share your fears about Social Security
Share your concerns about Social Security
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Share your concerns about Social Security
1) In the article, Social Security Fears, many Social Security myths are addressed. What concerns you the most about Social Security?
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I am new to receiving Social Security. Last week I went to the grocery store and bought staples, many of which were not previously prepared foods. When I arrived home, I went to my files and checked the same 19 items that I purchased this time last year and found that I had paid 30% more this year than last for the same items. Gasoline has increased almost double (average) in the last 12 months. Most federal employees, including US Congressmen, have received cost of living increases. Some in the amount of 16% increase in one year, as per the US News reported on television. I have been told that the Social Security recipients have NOT received even a cost of living increase for at least three years (as per local recipients). Is there a chance that this inequity of passing out increases will be addressed? And When? Jack V. Smith
Posted by Powderhorn63
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I am one of the government employees that works for Social Security that didn't get cost of living raise, my wages are being frozen for 3 years, no promotion are available, and they are talking about 30 day furloughs this year, reducing wages and pensions. I talk each day with every day folks that are struggling. Unfortunately the cost of living increases were based on the wage index and not need. The wages didn't increase due to the recession. SSA recipients will receive a 3.6% increase for 2012 and I am glad to see it even though I won't be included.
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I am new to receiving Social Security. Last week I went to the grocery store and bought staples, many of which were not previously prepared foods. When I arrived home, I went to my files and checked the same 19 items that I purchased this time last year and found that I had paid 30% more this year than last for the same items. Gasoline has increased almost double (average) in the last 12 months. Most federal employees, including US Congressmen, have received cost of living increases. Some in the amount of 16% increase in one year, as per the US News reported on television. I have been told that the Social Security recipients have NOT received even a cost of living increase for at least three years (as per local recipients). Is there a chance that this inequity of passing out increases will be addressed? And When? Jack V. Smith
Posted by Powderhorn63
3% cost of living increase due in January of 2012!
Wake up retired people and tell Congress we are tired of being picked on and being taken advantage of. We constantly hear how they want to change (cut) our Social Security COBRA because it cost too much or reduce Medicare because it costs too much.
We need to demand that Congress stop stealing from us and explain where all this money has gone. Example: we get our Social Security rounded off, down, after the $115.40 for Part B, in my case they keep $.60 now if you figure conservative that on the average it amounts to $.22 then for every 10 million people on Social Security that amounts to $2,200,000.00/month. At this rate they are keeping $26,400,000.00 per year for every 10 million recipients.
It’s time for Congress to tell the truth, stop stealing from us and clean their own house up first before they try and take more away from us.
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This is NOT a good time to be just starting on SS and Medicare . The future looks SCARY!!! Even if you have another source (like some kind of pension or an IRA) it will come to the point where our country's senior citizens will be forced to "live on a shoe-string." WHAT ever happened to the " Golden Age years " --respect and care for your elders?? Now that's one BIG JOKE!!! We must remember to pray for the souls of our politicials . That's their only hope!!
Posted by whoopie4ray
1. I don't understand how SS is going broke. If the Government would pay back all the money it has "borrowed" from it SS would be solvent for the long foreseeable future.
2. Why do they refer to SS an an entitlement? I am 68 years old this month and have paid into SS for all my working life and my employers did as well. That is MY money! I earned it ! I can only assume the by "entitlement" the Government means it's the money they are "entitled" to help themselves to when ever they don't want to draw any attention to where they are using it.
3. There would be no concern or fear foe SS if it was directly tied to other Government payrolls. If we (SS) don't get a CLI then neither does anyone else who has a Government job get a CLI. Result.....It would be forever solvent.
I guess these are my top three reasons for "fear".I am getting very tired of hearing about how we are building schools and roads for countries that hate us, fighting other people's wars when those people hate us, rewarding people who won;t pay their bill, forcing banks to lend money to poor RE risk and then bail out both the banks and to lendees. All the while the taxpayer has to foot the bill and "sacrifice" as our own infrastructure deteriorates.
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it will come to the point where our country's senior citizens will be forced to
"live on a shoe-string." WHAT ever happened to the "Golden Age years" --respect and care for your elders?? Now that's one BIG JOKE!!!
We must remember to pray for the souls of our politicials. That's their only hope!!
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I am new to receiving Social Security. Last week I went to the grocery store and bought staples, many of which were not previously prepared foods. When I arrived home, I went to my files and checked the same 19 items that I purchased this time last year and found that I had paid 30% more this year than last for the same items. Gasoline has increased almost double (average) in the last 12 months. Most federal employees, including US Congressmen, have received cost of living increases. Some in the amount of 16% increase in one year, as per the US News reported on television. I have been told that the Social Security recipients have NOT received even a cost of living increase for at least three years (as per local recipients). Is there a chance that this inequity of passing out increases will be addressed? And When? Jack V. Smith
Posted by Powderhorn63
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Will we ever see an increase in our Social Secuirty again to help the rising cost of living. Darlene Krake
Posted by 19krake66
The SSA and congress are blaming the boomers "entitlements" for the demise of social security, after they have fed the system through this countrys best economic times. In truth they have raided the trust fund several times and are reneging on payback. If your personal bank did this to you it would be called fraud. Lastly, how does it happen that we and our employers can pay many thousands of dollars in SS taxes each year but certain individuals froze our statements. How would that work at your bank also?? Recycle Congress.
Will we ever see an increase in our Social Secuirty again to help the rising cost of living. Darlene Krake
Posted by 19krake66
payments up about 3.6% in 2012
GOP Front runner Cain's 999 plan calls for abolishing Social Security and Medicare (New York Times, 11/13/11). Perry has called SS a ponzi scheme and unlawful. The GOP is against SS and Medicare by principle and would love to abolish/privatize them, as soon as they get in power, whether it be 2012, 2016, 2020, etc. And I don't believe their promises of not affecting those currently 50 or greater. They have a proven record of flip flopping and it is often a part of their plan. SO this issue is not going away; it is dangerous for us, and is dangerous for future generations. Should they get elected and abolish/privatize Social Security and Medicare, it will be a stupendous, catastrophic, disaster for the 10s of millions of poor and disabled elderly. Their only choice will be to wheel themselves out to th the trashcan and wait to die. This is the GOP plan for America in the 21st century, whether we like it or not. The day they get the power will be the day they begin their dismantling project. What is out only rational response? Is it to wheel ourselves out to the trashcan to die in misery? Of course not! We must therefore demand the Right To Die via a $99.00 Death Drug (we don't want any ahandouts). This is our only rational response because this "Dead Deal", the opposite of the New Deal, of the GOP is coming and nobody can stop it. Therefore we must do the only rational thing and demand the Right to Die. This is the unavoidable future of America.
Posted by GetRealQuick
[ Over the years the government has borrowed from the SS fund and used it for other things and has not to date paid it back. If they would pay back the funds they borrowed, maybe the fund wouldn't be in trouble today. I think this should be of major concern..
Note this fact: the government has never 'borrowed' nor 'stolen' money from the SS fund. The so-called Social Security Trust Fund is an accounting device, not a true fund.
All FICA payments from salaries have always gone into the general fund. All payments to SS recipients also come from the general fund.
See 'Social Security Trust Fund', on Wikipedia.
Actually SS is not in trouble, it is funded fully for 25 more years, (I,e,, there is enough income to match the outgo), then the outgo will be more than the income. However, since it all comes from the general funds, the outgo could ostensibly be paid from revenue from other tax, if the politicians choose to do so.
The reason for no increases in the past few years is that an accounting rule was made by Congress that derives the outgoing amounts from a measuremenet related to the Consumer Price Index. Obviously this comparison is not correct, considering that those items purchased by seniors are going up much higher than that.
A more real 'trouble' with the SS system is that the Republicans want to privatize it, sending some/all the income to private investment companies. Those investment companies will make billions, with no guarantees that they will continue to meet their obligations for payments to deserving recipients.
Hope this clarifies the situation.
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I am new to receiving Social Security. ....I have been told that the Social Security recipients have NOT received even a cost of living increase for at least three years (as per local recipients). Is there a chance that this inequity of passing out increases will be addressed? And When? Jack V. Smith
Posted by Powderhorn63
Are they ever going to stop the freeze on SS. I am living on $40.00 a week after the bills are paid. thats not much for drugs food Gas for car and anything extra. D.L. Anderson
Posted by dlittleones
Well if things get any worse for you, maybe you can cut your internet bill, go to net zero.net and get internet service for $10.00 a month on dial-up. I will buy your computer from you, that might get you buy for another year. Or you might think about getting a job at wal-mart being a door person. F M
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get away with all of the outrageous benefits they keep voting on for themselves? Talk about inequity!!!
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I just went on Medicare in May 2011. Now I'm really scared the Republican Party and the Tea Party are going to do their darnest to "Take it away from all Seniors" Should I be "Fearful" or Not?? It's a terrible situation in Washington,D.C., and it seems like it's getting worse all the time. I am a "Baby Boomer" and I dreaded turning 65, because of all this mess. Everyone of us worked hard all through the years and paid in to the SS System, now they want to take it away from us?? They better "Think Again" We the People have Rights, so they better "Watch It" or they'll Vote themselves right out of Office!!! I do NOT Like what I'm hearing coming out of Washington D.C.!!!! I am a "Die Hard" Democrat, and I really like Barack Obama, no matter what anyone says. He has "Fought TOOTH AND NAIL" FOR US. He has Bent over Backwards to get along with these Congressmen and Senators. All they have done is "Ruin this Country" and it keeps getting worse. I sincerely hope the American Senior People are strong enough to "VOTE THESE TURKEYS" OUT OF OFFICE. THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO BE IN OFFICE.
Posted by Yancey4
I agree. The Republicans are planning to balance the budget on the backs of the old and the middle class. Republicans think they can cut their way our of a recession. It's not possible. They need to get rid of the Bush tax cuts. Even Reagan had higher taxes. They think that the money will "trickle down" from the rich but instead it is flooding to the top. Middle class wages have been stagnant for decades while the rich got richer. Now there is not enough money left in the middle class to create the demand necessary to keep our economy going strong. Cutting middle class jobs (like teachers and police) just makes things worse. It reduces demand even further. The Obama jobs bill would have put people back to work and it would have all been fully paid for with a 5.6% tax on income over a million dollars. Currently the rich actually pay less percentage of their income than the middle class because they only pay 15% on capital gains and they have a lot of tax loopholes. GE paid $0 in taxes last year. Send a message to Congress to get their money from the rich, not the poor and middle class. We don't have any left to give.
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I am new to receiving Social Security. Last week I went to the grocery store and bought staples, many of which were not previously prepared foods. When I arrived home, I went to my files and checked the same 19 items that I purchased this time last year and found that I had paid 30% more this year than last for the same items. Gasoline has increased almost double (average) in the last 12 months. Most federal employees, including US Congressmen, have received cost of living increases. Some in the amount of 16% increase in one year, as per the US News reported on television. I have been told that the Social Security recipients have NOT received even a cost of living increase for at least three years (as per local recipients). Is there a chance that this inequity of passing out increases will be addressed? And When? Jack V. Smith
Posted by Powderhorn63
There is suppose to be a 3.6% increase in SS in Jan. 2012.
I am a "Baby Boomer" and I dreaded turning 65, because of all this mess. Everyone of us worked hard all through the years and paid in to the SS System, now they want to take it away from us?? They better "Think Again" We the People have Rights, so they better "Watch It" or they'll Vote themselves right out of Office!!!
I do NOT Like what I'm hearing coming out of Washington D.C.!!!! I am a "Die Hard" Democrat, and I really like Barack Obama, no matter what anyone says. He has "Fought TOOTH AND NAIL" FOR US. He has Bent over Backwards to get along with these Congressmen and Senators. All they have done is "Ruin this Country" and it keeps getting worse.
I sincerely hope the American Senior People are strong enough to "VOTE THESE TURKEYS" OUT OF OFFICE. THEY DO NOT DESERVE TO BE IN OFFICE.
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I'll vote for Bernie Sanders no matter what, since he is the only person running for national office who is discussing what used to be Democratic issues. There is no point pointing blame at Obama - campaign finance laws make it impossible for anything to change as long as corporations are footing the bill for who gets to be in office.
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We could start a lawsuit, but will be dead if it ever gets settled. After all, we're suiing law firms and the governments that want the business. I have been a legal secretary for over 14 years (couldn't find anything this past year) and watched my earnings decline drastically over the past 3-4 years, so I gave up!
It makes more sense to find something else to do. It would surprise me if anyone in Washington will lift a finger to help.
Last year, I wrote to as many people in Congress and to the Department of Labor about age discrimination and never even had the courtesy of a reply. That shows how much they care: not at all.
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@ma41669535 wrote:".....Last year, I wrote to as many people in Congress and to the Department of Labor about age discrimination and never even had the courtesy of a reply. That shows how much they care: not at all....".
This is an ongoing discussion that cannot be settled. The bottom line is that it's near impossible to prove that you are discriminated against because of age. There already are laws in place, but again, not able to use those laws 99.9% of the time as you have no proof. The feds can't do any more. You are being discriminated against by people responsible for hiring. Hiring is always 'discriminatory'. Studies have shown people are hired, or not, based on dress, facial hair, weight, height, etc. You don't know if they don't like your looks, dress, demeanor, how you speak, how they perceive your attitude. Government cannot help in this one-on-one type of situation that occurs everywhere, every day.
"...Why is everyone a victim? Take personal responsibility for your life..."
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No one ever does anything about age discrimination. I just found out a couple days ago at work that everyone was upgraded in their position ($2/hr. more) EXCEPT ME. I am almost 63 years old and, even though I do the same work as the rest, they did not upgrade me. I am so angry I can't see straight. All I can do is look for another job but they well know it will be very difficult at my age. I am working two jobs to barely get by and they are keeping me in my poverty. $2 more an hour would make my life more bearable but I have to continue with this lower salary because of this discrimination against me. And this is a state university.
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