tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post8078601171153608624..comments2024-03-28T18:11:40.841-04:00Comments on Sightings Over Sixty: Is Social Security In Your Future?Tomhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/08611148987085476580noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-62742550353330260182012-01-22T22:15:11.930-05:002012-01-22T22:15:11.930-05:00SS is not running a deficit now. If nothing is don...SS is not running a deficit now. If nothing is done to change SS, it will not be exhausted by 2036, but you will not receive your full benefits after that date (Medicare is running a deficite). Changes do need to be made to SS in order for beneficeries to receive full benefits. I started receiving SS benefits at age 65 while still working. I now wish I had waited a couple of years in order to receive higher monthly payments as well as higher COLA's (cost of living adjustments). It is a shame that we must pay taxes on this benefit because we were taxed on it while working and it was being deducted from our paychecks. 85% of your SS is the highest you will pay tax on. You may pay on less than that if you are in a certain income level. Let your congressman(woman) know that you oppose any privitization of Social Security, and to make the changes necessary to keep SS solvent without harming those who currently receive it and those who will eventually receive it.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-49198839311524189842011-08-16T07:45:08.030-04:002011-08-16T07:45:08.030-04:00Question... how can anyone with a clear conscience...Question... how can anyone with a clear conscience allow social security to be taxed. I paid taxes my entire life. Now I'm hearing that the government is considering taxing social security. Isn't that "double taxation"?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-27952505037149215692011-08-03T22:34:52.272-04:002011-08-03T22:34:52.272-04:00I say no changes to our SS money, I paid it for ye...I say no changes to our SS money, I paid it for years and need every penny with the price of gas, food, medical, as I am on it due to health reason, I get caught where i can't get a supplement in Washington State, so all the rest comes out of pocket, and my pockets don't have enough in to do that, I do not smoke, drink, or go out, why do I not get enough to live without having to choice which one I go without or with. i am frugel too. March on Washington DC senior and disabilied and find a better way to avoid the down fall of us that have paid in way more than we will ever get back.......$$$$$$$$$$ I want my cost of living raise or bring the price of gas down........Get this country going with jobs and people whom pay in that helps, stop the insanity or sending things to China and Japan to be done, buy USA......Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-20525374062712635952011-07-24T11:22:47.074-04:002011-07-24T11:22:47.074-04:00Great piece on SS. I was in the labor force when ...Great piece on SS. I was in the labor force when the discussions took place in the 1980s about saving SS by making changes in the age of full retirment, etc. I remember at the time of the agreement between RR and Tip O'Neale, that I felt I was doing the right thing, accepting the increase in taxes in my pay gracefully...not that I could do anything about it anyway. <br /><br />After that point, I never had a grace period at the end of the year when I had paid all my SS payroll taxes. The government had raised the cap and I was forever stuck under it. All the changes made them have now come home to roost. <br /><br />First, I had to retire owing to health reasons, before I reached the full retirement age. Then my younger sister, who has been through health hell the past few years had to retire before she reached full retirement age. Like Linda Myers, she was a teacher and her state pension is tied to the SS pension. I was a Federal worker, and changes were made to our pension scheme also (no more double dipping for one thing). <br /><br />Seniors have already made some sacrifices for the changes made 30 years ago to "save" SS, and as you point out with increases in the cost of Medicare payments they will continue to make sacrifices. <br /><br />Good post and timely too. Dianneschmidleysscribblins.wordpress.comhttp://schmidleysscribblins.wordpress.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-66448688417562609402011-07-22T14:26:46.506-04:002011-07-22T14:26:46.506-04:00I filed for Social Security last week, six months ...I filed for Social Security last week, six months into being 62. When I'm 65 I'll collect a pension from the state, and my SS entitlement will decrease by half. I wish I'd thought of that last September when I could have started collecting.Linda Myershttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05706455533282204519noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-4179128898220008562011-07-21T22:19:14.683-04:002011-07-21T22:19:14.683-04:00I think both your analysis and conclusion are righ...I think both your analysis and conclusion are right on. It's too bad our politicans have delayed so long in making minor adjustments to ensure a sound Social Security system for many more than the 25 years now projected for the present trust fund surplus to last. <br /><br />All that really is needed is to remove the cap on high earnings, which now are exempt from payroll taxes, and to make an adjustment in the cost of living index. The latter change probably will be made in the next few months.<br /><br />Social Security will be around a lot longer than anyone who reads this comment.Dick Kladehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11793395712483278104noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-15180655250397431632011-07-21T12:54:58.169-04:002011-07-21T12:54:58.169-04:00Well, thank you for doing that research for me!
I ...Well, thank you for doing that research for me!<br />I feel reassured.Junehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11710135137635433217noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-626594980028435818.post-36204336465905627452011-07-21T12:25:58.598-04:002011-07-21T12:25:58.598-04:00Great post, Tom. I believe your conclusion is spot...Great post, Tom. I believe your conclusion is spot on. As you say, our greatest challenge is paying attention and voting! Otherwise, who knows what could happen? <br /><br /><br />Many people I know depend primarily on Social Security after their 401K's were devastated and their home equity evaporated in the financial meltdown of 2008. The secret to a happy retirement on reduced resources is getting rid of any debt before retirement and enjoying life as is. My husband and I retired last year with considerably less money than we had planned -- thanks to the 2008 meltdown -- but we have no debts and simple tastes and so far life is good.Dr. Kathy McCoyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02903015507894951725noreply@blogger.com