SS--the gov spent all that you put in--but take it anyway--you worked for it!!!

It is an entitlement up to a certain point. If you pay into it and you die before you recieve any of the money, it will not be like a 401k and inherited to your benficiaries. Your money stays in the pool.

You pay into it, but that money went right into someone else's social security check. Social welfare is redistribution of resources. So when you were a working individual... you gave money and it went to someone else. Now someone is paying into the system to cut your check.

We need to cut a little deeper into the checks of those who make 50 Grand or more and distribute the wealth so those SSD checks will stretch a little farther.

But you neglect to say that SSD is a social insurance that if at some point you are unble to work, you can draw from that pool.

I don't think I will get it by the time my turn comes around...I'll be 49 and I have paid into since I was 15...yes since 15. I have to work till 62 or even 65 or to really benefit 70, for me to get any of it.

It will still be there. The government will insure that the social security will be there. The only way it will not is if the government fails completely.

How can it "still be there" when it's already gone? (all welfare programs past, present, and future have the same insolvency problem)

http://www.karlloren.com/healthinsurance/p41.htm
THE SOCIAL SECURITY DEBATE

Trustees Issue New Forecasts
For Social Security, Medicare
Associated Press
March 23, 2005 1:56 p.m.

WASHINGTON -- The trust fund for Social Security will go broke in 2041, a year earlier than previously estimated, the trustees reported Wednesday. Trustees also said that Medicare, the giant health-care program for the elderly and disabled, faces insolvency in 2020.

Like dragoness said... they will figure it out.

Better than nothing. Plus, a lot of people are only relaying on it. Which wasn't it's purpose. Individuals still need to have their own savings or pension funds to live off of... social security was just to maintain a certain standard of living and to keep older americans out of poverty.

It's not perfect, but better than nothing!

I don't think 70 is an unreasonable age for Social Security retirement. we are living better and healthier in old age than when it was introduced

my da is 74 and plays golf every other day. He says he would still be happy working if it wasn't for mandatory retirement from Sears

so he works part time as a greens keeper (only for the discounted green fees hahaha)

It will not disappear, there will be changes. And not all changes will go over well with the public, but social security will still be there.

Not really.
If you are injured or have a mental condition that keeps you from being employable, you can file for SSI, State or, SSD Federal. You cannot, not allowed to, have any type of income while you wait for approval or denial. If you are a male, you can get Food Stamps, no medicaide.

If you run out your savings and still want to keep your application active, you will usually wind up on the streets. The only way I have seen folks float and keep a roof is cheat until they get approved. Do work under the table.

More times than not, the application takes at least a year to process and the majority are denied. Then, you get an Attorney. They appeal and you wait again until SSA approves you or you go to court.
On average, it takes 2 years to process an application.

the exception to that is if you have End Stage Renal Disease. Then it gets fast tracked, only three months waiting, so that they can hurry and get you on dialysis

but for those three months to be eligible I had to quit my job and show no savings or income for those three months

Eligiblity of Medicaid differs from state to state, so some men qualify for medicaid without depends or some other state medicaid spin off program.

Yes, the system isn't perfect. Most people get denied the first time around. You can appeal without an attorney. Also, that is why worker's comp is there.

That is a scare tactic used by people to further their agendas.

Social Security will be available to all who need it for as long as it is needed no matter what the government has to do to put the money into it.

Fortunate for you to have survived the wait.

Ha! Social Security checks are deposited into bank accounts now. It's cheaper to do it that way.

Not completely accurate here but close. Getting medicaid depends on your income and which program you qualify for, not if you are male or female. You should be eligible for foodstamps and A.N.D if you are disabled.

Also do not cheat and work while you wait for the SS, you will get caught and you will be in trouble. If you are so sick that you need SS you should not be capable of working anyway, right?