Is social security really at risk of going away ?

[Anonymous]

For so many people SS is their only income. What happens when they are all living on the streets. Seriously. I don’t know what the answer is but this won’t end well

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The current political situation notwithstanding, Social Security has to change, and not in a way that benefits recipients. If you look at the numbers, it is a huge chunk of the federal budget, and, by the late 2030s, it will take in less money than it will distribute, if the current rules remain in effect. The US is already in a crippling amount of debt, so borrowing money to pay off Social Security recipients is not a viable option. At some point, if it wants to survive, the US will have to balance its budget, and that will likely include some mix of tax revenue increases, spending cuts (including entitlements), and inflation. The sooner we start on this, the less painful these changes will be for everyone. The current system is simply unsustainable.

Tax the rich. Solve the problem.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

I’m 57. And paid into it my entire working life. Are they planning to pay that back?

They already did...to your parents.

Oh FFS you are screwing your parents then. I’m 58 working since 15 paying in. I am ENTITLED to this “entitlement”

[Anonymous]

It is gone.

Do not expect it period

If your family lives on it they are now moving in with you.

[Anonymous]

You all give up so easily. Pritest! Show up! Make Noise! Good Trouble.

[Anonymous]

Tax the rich. Solve the problem.

There aren't enough rich people.

If we taxed income over $500k/year at 100% (which would only work for one year, of course, before people at that income level just left the country entirely), we still wouldn't balance the budget.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The current political situation notwithstanding, Social Security has to change, and not in a way that benefits recipients. If you look at the numbers, it is a huge chunk of the federal budget, and, by the late 2030s, it will take in less money than it will distribute, if the current rules remain in effect. The US is already in a crippling amount of debt, so borrowing money to pay off Social Security recipients is not a viable option. At some point, if it wants to survive, the US will have to balance its budget, and that will likely include some mix of tax revenue increases, spending cuts (including entitlements), and inflation. The sooner we start on this, the less painful these changes will be for everyone. The current system is simply unsustainable.

Social security is easily fixed by raising the cap. And these people in power only want more money for their tax cuts . It’s not about balancing the budget

Exactly 👍🏽

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you see this?


https://www.instagram.com/realdlhughley/reel/DHee1q3y8ZW/


"I describe it to people this way: Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who is 94, she wouldn't call and complain. She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month," said Lutnick, who paid for his 16,250 square-foot mansion with $25 million in cash. "A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining."


"Elon [Musk] knows this by heart," he continued. "Anyone who's been in the payment system and the process system knows the easiest way to find a fraudster is to stop payments and listen. Because whoever screams is the one stealing!""

They truly are disgusting, greedy @ssholes. All of them. As my DH says: cruelty is the point.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Tax the rich. Solve the problem.

There aren't enough rich people.

If we taxed income over $500k/year at 100% (which would only work for one year, of course, before people at that income level just left the country entirely), we still wouldn't balance the budget.

You forgot corporations.

[Anonymous]

I work for SSA. Here’s reality. Forget solvency and Trump’s stooge threatening to shut the agency down. It will break its own and miss payments due to staffing shortages and computer issues— probably in the next few months.

Our staffing was below 1970s levels even before Trump took office. With huge backlogs. My division was backlogged a year. And was detailed to an 18 month backlog. Now, Elmo and the GS 15 ACOSS stooge are making the working environment so incredibly toxic that substantive work has ground to an halt annd anll we seem to do is sit in all hands calls trying to comply with the latest instance and insulting email.

And then they offered VSIP and VERA— stacked. Everyone who can get out is— 12 people out of the 40 or so one my team had their last day today. These are the people who have been there long enough to understand the program. Employee retention and hiring was a huge issue before Trump. Now, we no longer have the staffing or institutional knowledge to keep the program running. I have 18 years in, can’t VERA and it never dawned on me during Trump 1 to leave. And I’m actively interviewing to leave the agency and move out of the DMV. And praying for a RIF so I get my years severance. I can’t do this for 4 years.

And now they are adding 85,000 people each week who would have done teleservice benefits registrations to the field office workload. While cutting staff and closing field offices and regional offices. It can’t be done.

SSA is an incredibly complex program running on 1970s computer systems. It takes years to really understand the program and systems. And mentoring and training new hires takes people off of casework. Which makes it a Humpty Dumpty Agency. Once you break it, there is no real way to put it back together. And it will break— even if Musk were not trying to kill it off. It’s just a matter of when.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:For so many people SS is their only income. What happens when they are all living on the streets. Seriously. I don’t know what the answer is but this won’t end well

This. There are thousands of elderly for which social security is their ONLY income. The only money they have in the world. They live paycheck to paycheck from one social security deposit to the next. Many have no family as they never had children, their children died, etc.
Are they all to starve to death on street corners? This is not hyperbole but 100% reality.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for SSA. Here’s reality. Forget solvency and Trump’s stooge threatening to shut the agency down. It will break its own and miss payments due to staffing shortages and computer issues— probably in the next few months.

Our staffing was below 1970s levels even before Trump took office. With huge backlogs. My division was backlogged a year. And was detailed to an 18 month backlog. Now, Elmo and the GS 15 ACOSS stooge are making the working environment so incredibly toxic that substantive work has ground to an halt annd anll we seem to do is sit in all hands calls trying to comply with the latest instance and insulting email.

And then they offered VSIP and VERA— stacked. Everyone who can get out is— 12 people out of the 40 or so one my team had their last day today. These are the people who have been there long enough to understand the program. Employee retention and hiring was a huge issue before Trump. Now, we no longer have the staffing or institutional knowledge to keep the program running. I have 18 years in, can’t VERA and it never dawned on me during Trump 1 to leave. And I’m actively interviewing to leave the agency and move out of the DMV. And praying for a RIF so I get my years severance. I can’t do this for 4 years.

And now they are adding 85,000 people each week who would have done teleservice benefits registrations to the field office workload. While cutting staff and closing field offices and regional offices. It can’t be done.

SSA is an incredibly complex program running on 1970s computer systems. It takes years to really understand the program and systems. And mentoring and training new hires takes people off of casework. Which makes it a Humpty Dumpty Agency. Once you break it, there is no real way to put it back together. And it will break— even if Musk were not trying to kill it off. It’s just a matter of when.

Thank you for what you do. I am so sorry for what this administration is putting you through.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Did you see this?


https://www.instagram.com/realdlhughley/reel/DHee1q3y8ZW/


"I describe it to people this way: Let's say Social Security didn't send out their checks this month. My mother-in-law, who is 94, she wouldn't call and complain. She just wouldn't. She'd think something got messed up, and she'll get it next month," said Lutnick, who paid for his 16,250 square-foot mansion with $25 million in cash. "A fraudster always makes the loudest noise, screaming, yelling and complaining."


"Elon [Musk] knows this by heart," he continued. "Anyone who's been in the payment system and the process system knows the easiest way to find a fraudster is to stop payments and listen. Because whoever screams is the one stealing!""

My great aunt would call and complain and she started working when she was 16 as the earned effing or my that be as he he receives from SS. I know people who rely on their SS and it would be catastrophic if they didn't receive their check. The elderly worked when salaries were miniscule compared to what they are today and to many SS is their life line.


Elderly

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I work for SSA. Here’s reality. Forget solvency and Trump’s stooge threatening to shut the agency down. It will break its own and miss payments due to staffing shortages and computer issues— probably in the next few months.

Our staffing was below 1970s levels even before Trump took office. With huge backlogs. My division was backlogged a year. And was detailed to an 18 month backlog. Now, Elmo and the GS 15 ACOSS stooge are making the working environment so incredibly toxic that substantive work has ground to an halt annd anll we seem to do is sit in all hands calls trying to comply with the latest instance and insulting email.

And then they offered VSIP and VERA— stacked. Everyone who can get out is— 12 people out of the 40 or so one my team had their last day today. These are the people who have been there long enough to understand the program. Employee retention and hiring was a huge issue before Trump. Now, we no longer have the staffing or institutional knowledge to keep the program running. I have 18 years in, can’t VERA and it never dawned on me during Trump 1 to leave. And I’m actively interviewing to leave the agency and move out of the DMV. And praying for a RIF so I get my years severance. I can’t do this for 4 years.

And now they are adding 85,000 people each week who would have done teleservice benefits registrations to the field office workload. While cutting staff and closing field offices and regional offices. It can’t be done.

SSA is an incredibly complex program running on 1970s computer systems. It takes years to really understand the program and systems. And mentoring and training new hires takes people off of casework. Which makes it a Humpty Dumpty Agency. Once you break it, there is no real way to put it back together. And it will break— even if Musk were not trying to kill it off. It’s just a matter of when.

He didn't go into this detail, but Martin O'Malley was on Maddow tonight saying the same thing.

Martin O'Malley, former Social Security commissioner, says he believes the Trump administration has already taken 90% of the actions necessary to crater Social Security.

https://bsky.app/profile/maddowblog.msnbc.com/post/3lkwmpq3kw42r

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

I’m 57. And paid into it my entire working life. Are they planning to pay that back?

They already did...to your parents.

Oh FFS you are screwing your parents then. I’m 58 working since 15 paying in. I am ENTITLED to this “entitlement”

Agree. I earned every effing cent that was as MANDATORY DEDUCTION FROM EVERY PAYCHECK!
SCREW TRUMP AND MUCK