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Why African Americans Should Care About Social Security
Seeded on Mon Jun 6, 2011 10:13 AM EDT
Article Source: the Root- Enjoy this article? Help vote it up the 'Vine.
- Public Discussion (8)
During these fiscal battles, blacks need to make their voices heard -- loudly -- in the national debates about the budget and about Social Security. This can be like explaining why voting for a particular presidential candidate is about the future Supreme Court and how that could affect generations to come.
- 1 vote
#1 - Mon Jun 6, 2011 10:14 AM EDTEverybody should care about Social Security one way or another. They take $270 from me every month for FICA-SS alone, plus another $700 for Medicare and Federal taxes. I have ZERO confidence that I will ever see one red cent of that money. Social Security isn't even an entitlement the way that they like to make you believe; you have to qualify for it and be mentioned in the same breath as people who are dependent...just the same as collecting unemployment benefits...they're not yours. Just the same as filing a claim with any slimy insurance company; your rates will increase, and you could be dropped.
FICA-SS is just another way of increasing your tax liability to the overall government checking account while pacifying you into think it will benefit you one day. The stories are out there about SS age-eligible people having to fight to get benefits. I'd much rather be dumping that money into my kids' college savings or something else with a more secure return on investment.
- 2 votes
The stories are out there about SS age-eligible people having to fight to get benefits
If you are age 62 or older and have contributed to social security, you can receive benefits, no question. The only question is how much do you get which you may want to argue about. Make sure SS has a record of your income for every one of your working years.
#2 - Mon Jun 6, 2011 11:30 PM EDTRoy is correct, one must qualify to collect social security benefits.
To qualify for social Security retirement benefits you must meet certain requirements and one of the requirements is that if you were born after 1929 you will need to have accumulated 40 credits (10 years working.) If you happen to stop working before this number of credits has been accumulated then you will not be eligible Social security retirement benefits. If you should return to work at some later date then you will continue to accumulate credits that can be used to determine eligibility towards full retirement. The age at which an individual can receive the maximum benefit is due largely upon the year of their birth.
Social Security Eligibility: How to Qualify for Social Security Retirement Benefits
- 2 votes
Roy is correct
Yes, Roy is sort of correct, so is Im 4Me who said you must be age 62 and if you have contributed you are eligible. To be precise, you must have the required credits. This is a black and white question because your employer provides the data. There's nothing to argue over.
The following statement by Roy appears to equate SS with Unemployment Benefits, but it's not clear and fundamentally not true.
Social Security isn't even an entitlement the way that they like to make you believe; you have to qualify for it and be mentioned in the same breath as people who are dependent...just the same as collecting unemployment benefits...they're not yours
I don't understand Im 4Me?
I guess I agree with you. We have beaten up a simple concept.
If you are age 62 and meet the earnings requirements (as submitted by your employers), you qualify for Social Security. That's all any of us need to know.
No, you were right about us keeping up with what we contributed yearly.
- 1 vote
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