First off, Social Security are benefits the government takes out for the welfare of senior citizens that have paid their taxes and paid into the program. Cyber-crimes such as identity theft from information, for example, from public education systems like the one my children attend, that recently has been compromised, creates this issue. Cutting Social Security is unfair to our American senior citizens. Secondly, the problem with the welfare system is on both sides of the fence, so to say. American citizens that do not want to work, creates an issue because they will have children or adopt children just to collect more from the system instead of working to provide for their families. Drug addicts are another issue to this problem as well, that is why every state should do random drug screenings for all substances for all welfare recipients. Illegal immigration and stolen identities is another problem. there for I proposed an Illegal immigration tax penalty for all illegal immigrants and their employers.
Social security and Medicare are earned by payments withheld from the individual workers salary. Welfare, housing supplement, and food stamps are NOT funded by the recipients but straight out of tax dollars! Just in case some of you young whippersnappers (& some older ones) didnât know this. Itâs easy to check out, if you donât believe it. Be sure and show it to your family and friends. They need a little history lesson on whatâs what and it doesnât matter whether you are Democrat or Republican. Facts are Facts. We need to return to the original social security rules!
Franklin Roosevelt, a Democrat, introduced the financial âsafety netâ for older Americans, Social Security was established in 1935 by the Social Security Act. Before then support for the elderly wasnât a federal concern - it mostly fell to states, towns and, of course, families. Part of the reason for the program was to encourage the elderly in the work force to retire and allow younger citizens to get the jobs vacated while providing the elderly an ongoing income high enough they wouldnât need so apply for other social program support, nor live in a state of poverty.
To qualify for Social Security retirement benefits, while employed a worker must accumulate 40 quarters of coverage (QCs), which takes at least 10 years because no more than 4 QCs can be credited in any year; you receive benefits later on at a retirement age based on when you were born. Contributions take the form of the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (FICA) taxes withheld from most paychecks.
The original government promise/ contract didnât last long.
1.) Participation in the Program would be completely voluntary [No longer voluntary],
2.) Participants would only have to pay (1936) 3 cents a dollar up to 3000 a year and that will be the most you will ever pay. (1937) 2 percent rate. Now 7.65% matched by employer or on the first $90,000, or 15% on the first $90,000 if youâre self-employed],
3.) The money participants elected to put into the Program would be deductible from their income for tax purposes each year [No longer tax deductible],
4.) The money participants contributed went into an independent âTrust Fundâ rather than into the general operating fund, and therefore, would only be used to fund the Social Security Retirement Program, and no other Government program [Under Johnson the money was moved to the General Fund and Spent or loaned interest free thus stealing the compounded interest], and
5.) The earned benefit annuity payments to retirees would never be taxed as income [Under Clinton & Gore up to 85% of your Social Security can be Taxed].
Since many have paid into FICA for years and some of us are now receiving a Social Security check every month â and finding it is getting taxed on 85% of the money paid to the Federal government to âput awayâ â you may be interested in the following:
Q: When did spousal and children payments become authorized following wage earners death?
A: In 1939 recipients were expanded and coverage beyond the worker provided in effect becoming a type of âlife insuranceâ coverage.
Q: Which Political Party took Social Security from the independent âTrust Fundâ and put it into the general fund so Congress could spend and borrow interest free from it?
A: It was Lyndon Johnson and the democratically controlled House and Senate.
Q: Which Political Party eliminated the income tax deduction for Social Security (FICA) withholding?
A: The Democratic Party.
Q: Which Political Party started taxing Social Security annuities?
A: The Democratic Party, with Al Gore casting the âtie-breakingâ deciding vote as President of the Senate, while he was Vice President of the US
Q: When was the retirement age raised?
A: Males under JFK, Women in 1956.
AND MY FAVORITE:
Q: Which Political Party decided to start giving annuity payments to immigrants who had not paid into the program?
A: Thatâs right! Jimmy Carter and the Democratic Party. Immigrants moved into this country, and at age 65, began to receive Social Security payments! The Democratic Party gave these payments to them, even though they never paid a dime into it!
Social Security Cards up until the 1980s expressly stated the number and card were not to be used for identification purposes.
Since nearly everyone in the United States now has a number, it became convenient to use it anyway and the NOT FOR IDENTIFICATION message was removed
Now, after violating the original contract (FICA), the Democrats and Republicans both turn around and tell you their isnât enough money to pay the earned benefits as they have been using the surplus deposits to pay for other unearned benefit type programs (welfare). The Democrats are now trying to sell the story that Republicans want to take your Social Security away!
And the worst part about it is uninformed citizens believe it! If enough people receive this, maybe a seed of awareness will be planted and changes can evolve. Maybe not, though. Some Democrats are awfully sure of what isnât so â but itâs worth a try.
Politicians have purposely named benefit and entitlement programs very similar to confuse people about what the government is spending and to loop some gullible taxpaying voters into supporting their unfunded and unconstitutional welfare programs.
Social Security still is Based on work history and payroll payments into the SSA trust fund.
Title II - employee payroll deductions
Retirement - draw after date determined by birthday
Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI)
[after 5 months]
Survivors and Dependents Insurance
Title XVIII - employee payroll deductions
Medicare [24 months after Title II begins, usually pays 80% of care, has deductible, copayment, no prescriptions]
Welfare Based only on financial eligibility (unfunded and unearned benefit from Tax dollars and diverted SSA trust funds. )
Title XVI - GOVERNMENT HANDOUT
Supplementary Security Income (SSI)
Title XIX - GOVERNMENT HANDOUT
Medicaid (immediate, usually covers 100% of care)
Medicaid provides a broad level of health insurance coverage, including doctor visits, hospital expenses, nursing home care, home health care, and the like. Medicaid also covers long-term care costs, both in a nursing home and at-home care. Medicare does not provide this coverage.
Prescription drugs are not covered by Medicaid. But if youâre eligible for Medicaid, the program usually pays the premium for Medicare Part D, the Medicare prescription drug plan, as most states include prescription drug coverage
Isnât it sad that people who pay into social security and FICA most of their lives get less benefits from the government than those getting unearned handouts?
If the social security program is going to be terminated or payments substantially reduced all individuals who have been forced to pay into this program should receive a lump sum untaxed refund for the total amount contributed with an option to open retirement accounts with the funds!
Actions speak louder than bumper stickers.
Appreciate the detail here. I read the two websites because of your comment about immigrants. I could not verify your view that immigrants, or anyone, can get SS without having paid in something. The Totalization Agreements apply to relatively few people and even then only give people a partial credit for paying retirement taxes in other countries (you have to pay some USA Social Security taxes),
To anyone who is bothered by immigrants getting SS payments because theyâre not a US Citizen or because theyâre âmerelyâ an immigrant, I beg you to consider that SS is a return of money paid in and not a handout or political bafoonery.
During the Nixon admin they did a trial of Negative Income tax using three different schedules. One of them worked very well and the participants had much better economic status after the end of the trial period. It was written up in the Scientific American magazine.
I popped this in to Copilot AI so that my INFJ brain could understand it better. This is what it spat out:
"* The Problem: In 2024, the U.S. spent $3 trillion on welfare and social security, but not everyone in need is receiving the benefits.
- The Proposal: Shift to a Negative Income Tax (NIT) system. This approach ensures everyone gets a guaranteed monthly income, simplifying support and making it more effective.
- The Transition: Over 10 years, gradually decrease current welfare benefits by 10% per year and introduce the NIT system, increasing it by 11% per year.
- How It Works: After 10 years, every citizen gets $1,500 per month. If you earn more, you gradually receive less NIT money. For instance, if you make $4,000 a month, youâd lose $625 from your $1,500 NIT. If you make $8,000 a month, you wouldnât get any NIT money.
- Tax Simplification: Switch to a flat 15% tax rate for all income types, making taxes easier to manage and encouraging higher earnings.
- Flexibility: Adjust the NIT for different situations (retirement, disability, dependents). For example, retirees could get an extra $750 per month, and families might get an extra $500 per dependent.
- Goal: Simplify the system, ensure money reaches those who need it most, and avoid penalizing higher earners.
Example:
- You are a retiree. With NIT, you get $1,500 monthly.
- You earn an additional $500 from a part-time job, giving you a total of $2,000 monthly ($1,500 NIT + $500 job income).
This proposal aims to create a fair and efficient system, ensuring everyoneâs needs are met while promoting financial independence."
I assume this is accuate. If it is accuate, then I do agree with it. It sounds like a good plan worth testing. The ending conclusion would be a 15% flat tax and a system where the minimum is $1,500 if you make $0 and are homeless. The more money you make, the more it goes away and the more you gain financial independence. I think this is an excellent idea.
To me the perfect tax system is more like Japanâs tax system where if you fall into a bracket of income, that percent is what you will pay. I like this bracket system because itâs very flexible when items need to adjust to economic instability or in case of dire circumstances. I feel the NIT system would require a complex system for adjusting items in case taxes needed to be adjusted. Fpr example, in the unprecidented instance of war or in the instance something significant or unprecidented happens. I think having the ability for this flexibility can help us plan for the unforseen.
Not just no, but hell no.
The abuse of the current programs will be dwarfed with the abuse of this one.
Get rid of the income requirements on all taxation, repeal 16. Keep government out of our paychecks.
Social Security was only ever meant to help people who worked most of their lives and became unable to work. And for the disabled. SS, at its inception, was in a totally separate account, and somewhere along the way Congress found a way to make it possible to use SS for other means. SS needs to go back to an untouchable status, closely monitored by a 3rd party yet unable to use it for anything other than what it was originally intended.
Your response was very caustic and rude. These are all ideas that people are putting in, they are open for discussion as you can read in the other comments. If you donât have something nice to say, find a nice way to say it. Letâs remember why weâre on this site and keep something as important as us having a say in the laws and reformation of our country as civil as we can. Weâre all trying to work towards the same goal of making our lives better and our country better.
The baby boomers allowed SS to work because there were so many of us paying in to this benevolent pyramid scheme.
Now that we are drawing SS, baby boomers have killed SS. The math doesnât work anymore. Letâs phase it out and incentivize private and personal responsibility.
You paid into every other government program too⌠and honestly you make some great reasons why Social security should be reformed, people canât live on $1,000 per month, hell $2,000 isnât even enough. This would guarantee everyone a higher income regardless of whether they have worked for 50 year or not, as long as you are a U.S. citizen you will receive your âsocial securityâ check, the benefit is we would be able to increase the benefit for everyone, spend less federal money and allow retirees that want to continue to work the ability to do so!
In my proposed policy you would need to be a Citizen to get the benefit
Do you feel like the other taxes you paid should be given back to you in some way as well? I believe so, every penny you give to the government should be used to benefit you in some way. This just makes that automatic and it makes sure everyone who is a citizen qualifies, you also wouldnât pay taxes on it if you worked in retirement.
I definitely see what youâre saying but remember, millionaires currently get paid social security. This is a form of UBI but I think it works the best since there is less chance for the government to arbitrarily give more money to people that deserve it less.
In our current tax system the rich can pay less in taxes because certain incomes are taxes at lower rates (cap gains). This prevents that issue
What is a better name for the programs the federal government offers to people? Genuinely asking. I do think there should be some overlap since people have paid into social security for their whole lives
You paid into every federal program, you deserve every dollar youâve put in plus. Thatâs why your benefit should go up, I see what you are saying about drug tests but as long as we restrict these programs to only citizens there shouldnât be an issue with providing them
I hear this but a NIT would likely stimulate the economy to make up for the taxes you pay for the program and we are able to help people in need
This violates the constitution and discourages Americans from working! No enumerated constitutional provision for special or social welfare exists. Any âbenefitâ which requires qualification is not general welfare, but special welfare. Special or Social Welfare is a type of government support for the citizens of society.
Unfortunately this penalizes successful and hard workers and violates Americas promote âgeneralâwelfare clause in the constitution.
It also encourages people to just take government handouts instead of working!
Agreed, stop taking peoples money and we donât have to worry about how to give it back
Iâd agree with this except a lot of people can fall through the cracks with charity and worse people who donât need the money can still siphon off money they donât need! The nice thing about this NIT program is it does not require a bureaucracy at all, as long as you file taxes at the end of the year the government is made whole.
Firstly this would increase benefits on average for retirees and cut the price the federal government pays, secondly, this would require citizenship to receive and since everyone would be a recipient it would be much more difficult for someone to be scammed out of their owed money