Social Security News today - 3/2/2005

[Cut-Throat]

New poll shows that 61% of Amercians favor raising the cap of Social Security wages.

19% favor raising retirement age. This looks like it could be 'Class Warfare' started by Bush.

The only Bill that looks possible now is to raise the Wage Cap on Social Security. -- (i.e. Raise Taxes) - People are not that stupid - As this will help "Save Social Security". Privitization will only make the "Social Security Problem" Worse.

 

[Craig]

And the U.S. post office is the best example of business efficiency in the world ...  

I believe privatization is part of a wise solution, not the whole solution.  It's a shame we're not spending more time examining successful implementations of that solution, and comparing them to application here.  More factual debate would help us all come to better decisions.

I would be a paycheck that we'll see further raising of the retirement ages, tweaking the COLA provisions, more taxation of SS benefits, possible means testing (a real irritant), and an increase in the taxable cap.  

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Speaking of the post office and their efficiency...

I dropped off my returns today at the PO. I was once again amused that you have to pay a government agency an extra $5 for a delivery confirmation that assures they successful did their jobs in delivering a packet of papers that took you hours to calculate through that ends up providing thousands of dollars to another government agency.

The "We might screw up our job, so pay us extra so you can prove to the IRS that it wasnt your fault" just strikes me at an odd angle...

 

[retire@40]

I dropped off my returns today at the PO.  I was once again amused that you have to pay a government agency an extra $5 for a delivery confirmation...

Why didn't you just file electronically. No paper, no toner, no envelope, no postage, no driving to the PO, no $5 for delivery confirmention, no being upset at 2 government agencies...just 1

Besides, the IRS doesn't care if you do delivery confirmation or not. It doesn't prove you mailed your tax returns in that envelope, just that you mailed an envelope.

 

[Spanky]

Here is a wild idea: how about returning all the money that I have contributed to social security plus interest and no future collection of social security tax from me in exchange of no social security benefits ever from the government? Does it sound fair?

 

[Eagle43]

Here is a wild idea: how about returning all the money that I have contributed to social security plus interest and no future collection of social security tax from me in exchange of no social security benefits ever from the government? Does it sound fair?

While I was working, that was my idea, repeated many times over. This week, though, I got my ss benefits confirmed, to begin in July. The payments will supplement my retirement checks and my IRAs. And I love that. However, if you moved my age back to 40, I'd take your option, in a heartbeat.

 

[JOhn Galt]

I honestly never gave SS a thought until I was almost 50.
Now at 60+ I am pretty happy that it's there. I
probably would have blown through the money and
retirement for me would be a struggle at best. So,
as I have said before, SS will save me ER -wise.

JG

 

[Austin_Explorer]

I honestly never gave SS a thought until I was almost 50.
Now at 60+ I am pretty happy that it's there.  I
probably would have blown through the money and
retirement for me would be a struggle at best.  So,
as I have said before, SS will save me ER -wise.

But that's a SOCIALIST program!   The real John Galt would be disappointed.  

 

[xprinter]

What John said is true the older I get the better SS looks. I also agree with Cut-Throat we sould raise the cap.

 

[Mountain_Mike]

Raising the cap makes NO SENSE if you believe that Social Security is a type of retirement plan (if you think it is another welfare plan, that's another story).  IF the cap is raised, then isn't it fair that maximum BENEFITS be increased to those same wage earners?  I do not hear any talk of that!

But...I think the cap should be lowered, if anything.  Persons who make over the cap typically do not need social security in the first place (but if they are forced to pay into it, they should receive it).  

Just my 2 cents....

 

[farmerEd]

And the U.S. post office is the best example of business efficiency in the world ...  

I dunno, who else will come to your house and pick up a letter and deliver it to someone 3000 miles away for just 37 cents?

 

[MJ]

But...I think the cap should be lowered, if anything. Persons who make over the cap typically do not need social security in the first place (but if they are forced to pay into it, they should receive it). Just my 2 cents....

Hi MM,
I have a more than a decent nest egg and I have been making over the cap for many years. SS payments will be an important and necessary supplement to my annual income.

MJ

 

[cute fuzzy bunny]

Why didn't you just file electronically. No paper, no toner, no envelope, no postage, no driving to the PO, no $5 for delivery confirmention, no being upset at 2 government agencies...just 1

Besides, the IRS doesn't care if you do delivery confirmation or not. It doesn't prove you mailed your tax returns in that envelope, just that you mailed an envelope.

Easy...$15 a pop for federal and state efiling. I could get a rebate for the federal but not for the state. The efiling charges are another one that throws me...pay us so we dont have to type your return in by hand... :

At least the california DMV finally figured out that nobody wanted to pay them a $5 'convenience fee' to renew their registration online...

 

[dlwoodmo]

TH
I mostly lurk around here, but I like your attitude toward all the things we are to do for the federal government. I still mail mine in.

Pete

 

[Cut-Throat]

Easy...$15 a pop for federal and state efiling.  I could get a rebate for the federal but not for the state. The efiling charges are another one that throws me...pay us so we dont have to type your return in by hand... :

At least the california DMV finally figured out that nobody wanted to pay them a $5 'convenience fee' to renew their registration online...

I thought E-filing was free. - correct me, if I'm wrong

 

[wildcat]

Hey let me throw this wild SS idea to the ER crowd. Why don't the SS people adjust the benefits and the amount you pay in according to your sex. Women live longer right? Why don't they either pay in more or receive less than men? Insurance companies profile people according to statistics so why doesn't SS do the same thing? Don't give me the discrimination crap either b/c statistics don't lie. Unfair maybe but I don't enjoy paying more money for insurance just because I am a male. And this is just an idea and I do not believe it will fix the system.

 

[indymom]

However, in my family the women don't tend to last very long after 65, if that long. Does this mean I get a discount?

 

[wildcat]

I don't know but that idea was a real idea posed by someone (forgot the name) working on SS reform. I don't know about the discount either if that were the case. Just like insurance, they don't know you personally and can only statistically categorize you.