Share your concerns about Social Security

[AARPMiller]

1)     In the article,  Social Security Fears, many Social Security myths are addressed. What concerns you the most about Social Security? 

[dlittleones]

In Response to Share your fears about Social Security:

1)       In the article,    Social Security Fears , many Social Security myths are addressed.  What concerns you the most about Social Security? 
Posted by AARPMiller

[bobcox]

The problem is that COLA idgnors two essential cosrt factors, food and fuel.  For the purpose of providing Senior Citizens whgo are primarily on Social Secrity, increasses in food costs and fuel costs can present a hardship or put thim into the difficult position of having toask for financial assistance.  The COLA for Social Security calculation should be dynamically recalculated each qukarter and thke Social Security Payments adjusted accordingly.

[bstjohn]

I read an article that medicare premiums will go up quite a bit for 2012 and to right around $245.00 by 2013 is this true?  As we see no cost of living raise in the last 3 years it must be obvious to SS if they are raising our premiums that all things cost more.
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..

[mt25195668]

I share your views of Social Security, there are so many things going on and a blind eye says nothing, when will this change, these are our elected officials who we vote into office.  Mid-terms are coming along this is the time to vote for change, someone who will stand up for us as we are the majority!!!   Remember we have the power if we vote for change. 

[WOT4]

The government has always "borrowed" from the fund if that is what you call the fund's investments. Without this investing/borrowing the fund would really be in trouble. The US Treasury has always paid its obligations and will continue to do so.

[19krake66]

Will we ever see an increase in our Social Secuirty again to help the rising cost of living.

Darlene Krake

[Powderhorn63]

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

[r522470d]

I have a sensible question regarding the "cost of living" increase.

parity is needed but where does it come from?  The system itself needs to be re-evaluated as to how and where our taxes are being appropriated.

i just learned that I will now be taxed for money that I paid into the system for nearly 50 years.

its worse than paying a bank to withdraw your money (ATM fees).

[GailL1]

@r522470d 

The part paid into the system by your employer as a match to your contribution wasn't taxed -  so just think of it as paying tax on that amount.

Whatever taxes you may pay on your benefit goes back into the SS Trust Fund and helps it to continue.

I don't understand your question on "cost of living".

[judithm382481]

• I would like to know if AARP is fighting for seniors on these topics that are important to us.

[BouzianiB939798]

Iam new to make sociale sécurité

[ag9870]

Well, I'm getting a $10.00 increase in 2016, a definate "inequity of passing out increases". Certainly not anywhere near an appropriatle annual increase.

[judyz82]

US Congressmen have not received pay increases for at least the last 3 years that I know of and the last one was rejected as well. Gasoline costs are partly due to refined fossil fuels being our #1 export, which keeps supply low despite low demand and also speculation by bankers, etc. who have no interest in taking possession of the commodity for their use. This is called the CFTA and was passed into law around 2000-2001. We are probably paying 1.50 more per gallon then we otherwise would be and that also drives up the costs of all other consumer goods.

[judygram]

instead of using the surplus Social Security revenue to buy good bonds in the open market, the government chose to spend the money and issue IOUs to replace the spent money.*** These IOUs are non-marketable and could not be sold to anyone, even for a penny on the dollar. The government has the legal authority to declare these IOUs null and void.

The Social Security trust fund does not hold any real economic assets that can be drawn down to pay future benefits. That is an indisputable fact today, and it has been true ever since the 1983 payroll tax hike was enacted. Every dollar of the $2.5 trillion in surplus revenue, generated by the payroll tax hike, has been spent on programs unrelated to Social Security, leaving nothing to save or invest.

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn warns. “We have stolen $2.6 trillion from it. We put paper money in there. The problem is, we spent the money – we didn’t just take it, we took it and spent it,”

Obama knows this and just keeps borrowing to spend even more. 17 trillion. Hillary is just more of the same. We the voters seem powerless. We must vote the Progressive Democrats out in 2016.

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@Powderhorn63 wrote:
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

---

instead of using the surplus Social Security revenue to buy good bonds in the open market, the government chose to spend the money and issue IOUs to replace the spent money.*** These IOUs are non-marketable and could not be sold to anyone, even for a penny on the dollar. The government has the legal authority to declare these IOUs null and void.

The Social Security trust fund does not hold any real economic assets that can be drawn down to pay future benefits. That is an indisputable fact today, and it has been true ever since the 1983 payroll tax hike was enacted. Every dollar of the $2.5 trillion in surplus revenue, generated by the payroll tax hike, has been spent on programs unrelated to Social Security, leaving nothing to save or invest.

Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn warns. “We have stolen $2.6 trillion from it. We put paper money in there. The problem is, we spent the money – we didn’t just take it, we took it and spent it,”

Obama knows this and just keeps borrowing to spend even more. 17 trillion. Hillary is just more of the same. We the voters seem powerless. We must vote the Progressive Democrats out in 2016.

[AARPMiller]

1)     In the article,  Social Security Fears, many Social Security myths are addressed. What concerns you the most about Social Security? 

[tg31335944]

i was affermed as dissabled about 2003. i was 50 yrs old i started geting ssi each month. when i turned 62 i was geting $500.51 dollars a month. i never chose to sign up for social security. the social security office took it apawn there self to sign me up and it cut my ssi down to $100.00 a month and now my social security is $616.00 a month and ssi $100.00. its very hard to live on that when you pay for gas and my meds are $30.00 pluse fixing lawn mower & every so often parts for car & life ins & car ins house hold items. theres been no cost for living expence in yrs. by the time all these get payed plus the electric bill thers not much left for the month. 

. 

[ld28774123]

Look into the "Extra Help" benefit with Medicare. Depending on your income (mine wwas less than $800) you can qualify to get your Part D premiums paid for and a BIG reduction on your drug costs. Mine are $3.30 for generic and I think, $8.00 for brand names. I got a refund check on a generic that was costing me $104.30. Now it is $3.30!!! Easy to apply, do it online and hear back in less than a month. It is retroactive to time you applied, so hence, the refund. Recycled to medical bills but very welcomed boost.

[faith0059]

  i agree with what we get from social security and no raise this yearand no one cares what we have to pay out,for rent ,heat,electric,phonefood,i pay 1000.00 then i got supplement ins.182.00,and life ins.214,00,and when i`m done my checking says 000,00.

  so what else do they want from us our skin or don`t we eat this month or live under a bridge.

the i read in the paper last week that the goverment want to vote to help mexico by voting to give then some of our money we worked taxed money we worked for. well i feel charty beginns at home and they shgould take care of us first .

faith h.

[ds11972849]

I heard some money saving loopholes will be closed at the end of this April in social securiy that could get seniors more money and benefits.I wonder if this is true and if I'm eligible.

[retiredtraveler]

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ds11972849 wrote:

"...I heard some money saving loopholes will be closed at the end of this April in social securiy that could get seniors more money and benefits.I wonder if this is true and if I'm eligible....".

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  Here's a link:   Your Money: The End of Social Security Loopholes: What ...

[fs3641808]

I am very concerned about what they based the no COLA raise on. From everything I have read & heard it's based on inflation (of gas). Well, gas may be down, everything else is up. Prices go up in the grocery stores from week to week! I'm barely hanging on.

[mh53321653]

What concerns me the most is the recent 57% !!! Rate increase in the monthly premium! I am astounded that this is even legal? I understand that increases are a fact of live, however, this level ofn crease is outrageous for seniors to absorb, especially since there was no increase for the cost of living index!  Is AARP tackling this issue?

[GailL1]

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@mh53321653 wrote:

What concerns me the most is the recent 57% !!! Rate increase in the monthly premium! I am astounded that this is even legal? I understand that increases are a fact of live, however, this level ofn crease is outrageous for seniors to absorb, especially since there was no increase for the cost of living index!  Is AARP tackling this issue?

---

  This increase in Part B premiums was only for newly eligibles to Medicare.  IOW, those that are not covered by the hold harmless clause in Social Security. 

The increase to the newly eligibles was toned down some by the Budget deal in 12/2015; course we will all have to make it up whenever we do get another COLA.

You do understand how these Medicare Part B premiums are set, don't you?  They are set by what the actual cost to the program turns out to be.  The government covers about 75% of Part B cost and this comes out of General Revenues.  Part B premiums makes up the other 25%.

[mh53321653]

I am referring to the Medicare premiums increase of 57%. ! In my earlier post.

[mwn560]

SSI is totally un-funded, Collect what you can at the earliest age you can. It will run out. Maybe more sooner than later. I worked for 40 years, I would like to think that they saved enough to pay me back, they did not. Collect what ever you can for as long as you can. Sorry to break the news you already know. This is the real world, and there is no lock box on what you paid in. It was already spent before you paid in. Get out as much as possible as soon as you can. You get more at 70? what a load of crap. if it came down to it, they would hunt you down and kill you. (Chester the horse) do you get it? Something is very wrong, going on right now. Get what's left of the money ASAP. Collect at 62, keep paying in while still working. Don't plan on a check every month. 3 years tops It will be over. Just collect as early as you can, the system is bankrupt. 

[retiredtraveler]

"...SSI is totally un-funded...".

   SSI is supplemental security income, dispensed under SS. You only get this if disabled and a number of other requirements. You can't take it at 62 unless you fulfill other requirements.

[Baren]

My wife had ssi due to her disabilities but they kicked her out at 62 because I was retired and was recieving too much money from disability ss.

Living in Texas we are denied medicade due to our republican governor won't expand it . She found help with a county hospital district . It isn't insurance but a pay program that goes by income .We qualified but since I am 65 I chose to use outside doctors with my medicare program.

    My wife worked all of her life and paid taxes and this is how our government treats her when she needs help . Something has to give in the future or older Americans will do without proper care and die early .

[GailL1]

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@Baren wrote:

My wife had ssi due to her disabilities but they kicked her out at 62 because I was retired and was recieving too much money from disability ss.

Living in Texas we are denied medicade due to our republican governor won't expand it . She found help with a county hospital district . It isn't insurance but a pay program that goes by income .We qualified but since I am 65 I chose to use outside doctors with my medicare program.

    My wife worked all of her life and paid taxes and this is how our government treats her when she needs help . Something has to give in the future or older Americans will do without proper care and die early .

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  If your wife worked all of her life and paid taxes, I am assuming that this was for earned income, then she should be able to qualify for her own Medicare benefit at 65 and her own Social Security Benefit (early retirement age is still 62; Full Retirement Age is now 66 + some months).

[wd28517969]

I'm happy with SS.I have been drawing it for (10) ten years.However,I served in the militiary and as such was able to receive the G.I. bill for education expenses.Even though it took me some (12) twelve years of night school the rewards were worth the efforts expended.To have laid back and 'planned' a retirement on SS alone,would have been,and is foolish.Get off of your behind and take advantage of al of the emense opportunities that this great country offers!