SS recipients

[magyar123]

All Social Security payments will increase by 5.8 % in 2009. Largest increase in over 20 years.

[JRScott]

I wish I got a 5% raise this year to keep up with inflation......

[WhatMoney]

I wish I got a 5% raise this year to keep up with inflation......

When you are old enough for Social Security you too can get a 5.8% increase in your measely SS check every 20 years too. Unless you get your wish and there is no Social Security when you retire.

A recent study by The Senior Citizens League (TSCL) analyzed 15 key expenditures, and found that people 65 and over have lost 51 percent of their buying power since 2000. Expenses such as home heating oil and gasoline have more than doubled since the beginning of the decade, while food staples such as eggs and potatoes have increased by 137 and 97 percent, respectively.

Are we grateful for the increase? YES. Does it reflect a true hedge against our declining purchasing power? NO.

Last year the increase was only 2.3%, the lowest in many years - while real inflation for Seniors was closer to 12%/year.

The average increase of $63/month next year for Seniors will be easily eaten up by higher rent, energy, food, and medical costs. Seniors fall farther behind every year as the CPI-U index used to calculate annual increases is designed for the urban worker, not retirees. The CPI-W index more closely reflects the cost of retirement - but since it is higher than the CPI-U, the administraion refuses to use it. This will become more of an issue as many baby boomers start to retire on only Social Security and find it means living below the poverty level because of inflation.

[JRScott]

I don't believe we will have SS when I'm old enough to collect. Though it would be easier to save than Medicare or Medicare as it accounts for only about 1/4 or the 53 trillion deficit the three main entitlement programs.

I don't believe it was a good policy to begin with. It should fall upon families to take care of their own, not upon workers.

[Minnymouth]

DO NOT MISUNDERSTAND ME WITH THIS STATEMENT...............

"If DISABILITY was not given to every Tom, Dick, and Mary Jane that "has a hangnail".............funds for Social Security could be easily funded.

Social Security was designed to help care for the elderly, children without a parent, and those that have no family members that have become elderly.

Disability was designed to help people who "actually" are not able to work!!! Not for folks that can't do a certain job, and don't want to work.

Like I said, don't misunderstand me, panic attacks nerves are "real" sickness, but they make meds for these conditions, just like diabetics, and heart problems. I do not believe a person should be getting total disability the rest of their lives because of panic attacks and nerves.

I have friends and neighbors who live on total disability...... mainly because they don't want to work. Yet they are able to repair cars, roof houses, plant gardens, landscape, and build things. They do anything they want, no limitations. Yet their panic attacks and nerves are so bad.... they can't hold down a regular job. (But yet they can work for "cash" for someone and make $10-$15K a year). Then they draw full benefits under disability and so does their spouse and kids. I feel this is ABUSING THE SYSTEM.....

I've had panic attacks, nerve attacks, etc. Yet I've worked every day of my life. Pressure gets to everyone, but you have to deal with it, take meds if needed, and get on with life.

Now days, people who really do need assistance, can't get it.......... Elderly cannot get help when they need it. They do without meds to have heat, or some have even frozen to death because they couldn't afford heat.... How sad is that???

Some elderly have no one. Some have no living family members to look after them, see their took care of, or their needs are met.

Yet these folks fall thru the cracks of the system..... and someone who is capable of working doesn't have too... just sign up on disability!!! Draw a "crazy check".....

Now days even the SS checks are a joke. People can't live on it...... it is below proverty level and many just do without medical care and meds to help keep their heads above water.

Well, I'll get off my soap box, but the "disability" system is a sore spot for me and lots of other working folks.

Many of our govt. programs need to be overhauled....... as now they are being abused and not used for their original purpose....

[JRScott]

Very good points Minny, and I know some folks just like you are describing, basically they are free loaders off of us workers......

Now when the system collapses from its on weight within the next 15 years one has to wonder what these folks will do when the checks are severely diminished or eliminated entirely....give a man a fish, he eats a day, teach him to fish, and he eats for life.....

[PoorGrammyinBK7]

I so agree with you Minnie and I have some friends like that too. One of them has full SSD and yet she is able to travel all over the world with her husband and also "works" sometimes. Now she did have problems when she filed, but has since got both knees replaced and is doing MUCH better.

I am sitting here bankrupt with bad back, bad knees - can barely walk - and cannot stand for more than 5 minutes without pain - really need surgery but can't afford it, have been unemployed for a year and I can't make myself even file, 'cause I just feel that there are others who need it more than me.

[TEW]

MISUNDERSTAND???????

Hey I’m with you. It’s not only these mental health problems that need to be looked at most of them are very treatable. How about Evaluate Reeducate Remploy.

[WhatMoney]

I wish that SSDI, Disability Insurance run by the Social Security Administration was under another name and government department. Mainly so the attacks on the social security system would leave Social Security Retirement Benefits, the largest part of SS, out of the attack.

I don't know of anyone abusing the system, but that's probably because I am a professional and everyone I know is also. I don't doubt there is some abuse, but it's up to the caseworker to monitor each SSDI recipient. A yearly requalification is always needed. Actually I do know of one adult, 45 years old collecting SSDI. He has been deaf and mute since birth. At age 40 he had a major heart attack, required bypass surgery, and is now operating with a 30% heart capacity. He can no longer work or drive. I guess he should just get a job anyway and try harder...

I have worked all my life, since age 15, and paid over $200,000 in taxes into my Social Security account. It is my money they are now dribbling back to me since age 65. Maybe I'll live long enough to get it all back. You folks attacking Social Security should worry about what you'll be living on when you reach retirement age if you want to end Social Security.

And Minny this is NOT directed at you. I understand where the problems are, which is why SS should only be a retirement program, as was first intended. But there are others on here that want to eliminate most of the US government including Social Security - and return to the good old days when everyone lived on a farm, had 12 kids, and died at age 60.

[woeisme]

I am really conflicted on this issue, because I've seen both sides of it (someone who needed SSI who had to fight forever to get covered and someone who could probably work but is collecting SSI instead) and my husband now is on disability himself, although won't qualify for SSI at all because he hasn't worked 40 quarters within the last 10 years.

In the first case, my brother had a heart attack and stroke that left him partially paralyzed on the right hand side (has little hand movement, walks very awkwardly with a cane) and lost his ability to speak almost completely, pretty much is just able to grunt despite lots of physical and speech therapy. Also the stroke damaged his vision, so add that in there too. Anyhow, he had to fight for the better part of 2 years to get SSI, for whatever rerason they kept denying him saying that it didn't look like he'd suffer from these problems for the rest of his life so wasn't eligible (maybe because he was only in his 40's when this happened they thought he'd recover better than he has?) Anyhow, this all happened 9 years ago and he's barely improved, he is currently living with my mother who takes care of him and pretty much does everything for him, but isn't this who SSI is supposed to take care of, after working for 20+ years a disabling issue comes up, there needs to be a safety net.

The second case is my Sister-in-Law, my husband's sister. She's collecting SSI because she suffers from "anger" issues and qualifies due to her mental state or something. The woman takes no antidepressants or any other medications for these so-called mental problems, just goes to counseling (which we the taxpayers pay for) several times a month. Not sure how being such a bit*h that no one wants to work with you qualifies as a disability... but she managed to work it out in her favor. Not a thing wrong with her physically, and her so-called mental issues don't get in the way of any other aspect of her life, she's able to join clubs, go to church, socialize, just not work???

Then my husband who is 50 and worked since he was 16 at multiple jobs at a time has severe spinal problems and vein disease that is essentially like a diabetic who has lost circulation to the legs (although from a different cause than diabetes) so he can hardly walk between his back and leg circulation issues, but can't get SSI because he worked for the State so was exempted from SS taxes and instead paid into the state system, which provides very paltry benefits. So in some ways I feel really let down by the SSI system in that respect too.

But I also see Minny's point, my husband could work a desk job, just not his old job. The job he was working before the back injury that finally side-lined him was as a prison's corrections officer and he has to be on his feet the whole time and physically able to restrain an inmate if the inmate tries to attack a fellow inmate or another guard. But there are very few jobs that pay anything other than minimum wage in our area (very economically challenged part of the country, we were already in a recession before the financial crisis!) and almost all of those jobs require physical mobility since they are primarily in the service industry. He's collecting 50% pay right now, but once his first year of disability is up he's going to get switched over to a different system and I don't know how we're going to make ends meet then if he doesn't find some other kind of work that he can do with his back problems.

As to the system in general, I would personally be much happier with a system that had people work for their benefits (to the limits of their abilities of course). I know both my brother and husband would be living better, more fulfilling lives if they had jobs and purposes to their days. In my brother's case, there's not a whole lot he could do, but even if it's just stuffing envelopes, it would still be better than sitting around my Mom's house all day mindlessly watching TV and waiting to die! And my husband could do a lot, computer work, answering phones, even filing if he could do it from a chair on wheels instead of bending over and such. I've been telling him for months he needs to get out and do some volunteer work if nothing else, be a tutor since he has a college degree, work the information booth at the hospital, something!!! Maybe not everyone on SSI could work a job, but most people can do something, and really need to do something to feel like they are contributing in a positive way to society.

[WhatMoney]

For anyone claiming they know of someone committing disability fraud in the SSDI (Social Security Disability Insurance) or the SSI (Supplemental Security Income) programs, here is the SSA Fraud link so you can report the cheater:

https://www.socialsecurity.gov/oig/p...rting/form.htm

The SSA will conduct an investigation. Be sure you know about "invisible disabilities"; 26 million americans are classified as disabled, but only 1.8 million are in wheelchairs or use walkers (from a 1996 study).

Note SSI is a true welfare program for low or no income individuals who are blind, disabled, or aged over 65 (and do not qualify for SSA retirement benefits because they didn't pay enough into the system.) The funding does NOT come from the Social Security Trust Fund or FICA taxes, but from the general funds of the US government. SSI covers those not covered by the pay-in programs like SSDI and OASDI. I think this is what bothers most people who are opposed to any kind of government welfare program. It is NOT social security.

The SSI program officially began in January 1974 by federalizing states' programs, designating the Social Security Administration (SSA) to administer the SSI program. SSA was selected because it had been administering a nationwide disability program under the Social Security Disability Insurance Benefits (DIB) program since 1956 under the Old Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance (OASDI) programs associated with FICA payroll taxes. You can thank the Nixon Administration for SSI, as this was Nixon's attempt to reform the welfare system.

SSDI is for the disabled who have met the work requirements for SSA and are under 65 years of age. It is NOT a welfare program, and is a payroll tax-funded, federal insurance program of the government.

Federal Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance, OASDI is what most people think of as Social Security. They are benefits you paid for through your FICA taxes. The more you paid in, the more you get out when you retire or become disabled. Obviously nothing to do with welfare.

Other programs administered by SSA are:

Temporary Assistance to Needy Families
Health Insurance for the Aged and Disabled (Medicare)
Grants to States for Medical Assistance Programs (Medicaid)
State Children's Health Insurance Program (SCHIP)
Unemployment Insurance, originally a part of Social Security, but now a state-federal managed program.