|
|
Dangerous Financial ProductsDon Boudreaux has provided us with another glimpse into his refreshing perspective on economics. 22 June 2007 Ms. Clara Perez www.democracyjournal.org Dear Ms. Perez: Thanks for your e-mail alerting me to Presidential-hopeful John Edwards's proposal to create "a regulatory commission to protect consumers from dangerous financial products." If such a commission does its job, I suggest that the first dangerous financial product that it attacks be Social Security. Not only are Social Security's returns lousy; not only does the institution providing it have no sound plan to keep it solvent; not only does this institution intentionally mislead its clients about its insolvency (witness its discussions of the illusory "trust fund") - but its "customers" are forced to buy it. THAT is a dangerous financial product! Sincerely, Donald J. Boudreaux Chairman, Department of Economics George Mason University Cafe Hayek Blog
Pence On Fox NewsCongressman Mike Pence, elected with Club member support in 2000, was on the Fox News Channel earlier today to talk about tax hike rumors surrounding Social Security reform. The video quality is a little crummy, but it still works.
IGNORANCE OF THE LAW EXCUSES NO ONE...SO THUS IGNORANCE OF SOCIAL SECURITYIt is quite disappointing to know that very few Social Security members are actually aware of the benefits they are paying for. In fact, some members only know that they are entitled to receive certain benefits only in times when they are about to file for their claims. Ironic isnât it but this is reality. And the saddest part is some of the people there in the Social Security Administration really takes advantage of this situation. The miniscule knowledge of Social Security members to the law governing Social Security create a problem especially when they are about to file for their benefits. Since they are not aware of all the legalities involved they become adamant especially when they become aware that are some exclusions stated in the contract that would have an adverse effect on their claims. The result is a big misunderstanding between the Social Security Administration and the claimant. In order to prevent such from happening, it would be best for the Social Security to impose strict ruling that all members should undergo a seminar before applying for membership in the Social Security. These way unfair treatments of members as well as corruption in the Social Security system are minimized. For those who are going to file for a claim and does not have any idea on the legalities involved you may always try to call the hotline of the Social Security Office in your area in order for you to know the step by step procedures. And just to be sure that you get the correct amount of benefits you deserve try to have a California Social Security Disability Attorney to review your documents before you file it. This way you will be provided with helpful legal advices as to what pertinent documents should be included and what other information is needed to hasten the filing procedure of your claim. And also having a Los Angeles Social Security Attorney to help you with your claims can give you peace of mind since you know that your right is protected.
SOCIAL SECURITY: THE PROBLEMS WITH LIVING-INâLiving-inâ is very common nowadays. So many children are raised in a family set up wherein the parents are not married. The problem with this arrangement arises when its time to claim for benefits. Take for example, a Social Security member who is an unmarried father dies and has left a spouse and a kid. The big question now is whether the remaining spouse and the kid are entitled to benefits even though the deceased member and his spouse are not married? The usual remedy for this type of problem is to file for a petition in a family or a superior court with the involvement of the family of the deceased member. The reason for such is to determine the paternity of the deceased member. Likewise a DNA test can also be conducted to further support the claim of the surviving family. The parents or the siblings of the deceased member may contribute the DNA sample for the DNA test. After which, the result of the DNA test must be brought to court in order to file for the changes of the birth certificate of the child or children then that is the only time the filing for social security benefits can commence. However, if in spite of the documents presented still your claims are denied then it is high time for you to consult an expert on Social Security Law-experts like a Social Security Lawyer. A California Social Security Lawyer will provide you with all the legal advices you need. Aside from that, your Social Security Lawyer will review and examine your submitted documents in order to come up with effective legal solution directed toward getting you the benefits you rightfully deserve.
Social Security Trust Fund Still DoomedSocial Security Fund Trust Fund Still Doomed Club For Growth Argues for Market-Based Reform Washington â The Club for Growth reiterates its commitment to genuine market-based Social Security reform in light of the funding crisis projected by the Social Security Administrationâs 2007 Trustee Report. Released earlier today, the report predicts that Social Security costs will outstrip tax revenue coming into the âtrust fundâ by 2017. But, of course, the âtrust fundâ is not a fund in any meaningful sense of the word. Absent reform, by 2017, the government will be facing either a politically untenable benefit cut or, more likely, a huge tax increase. âSocial Securityâs funding crisis isnât going anywhere unless we do something about it,â Club for Growth President Pat Toomey said. âTodayâs report only drives home the need for real market-based Social Security reform in the form of personal accounts. Not only will personal accounts go a long way to solving the fundâs insolvency problem, but, more importantly, they will also restore personal freedom and independence to Americaâs workers.â âSome politicians refuse to embrace personal accounts because they mistakenly believe that the American people cannot make their own decisions about how to invest and save for retirement. It comes down to a basic lack of faith in the American people and an overabundance of faith in themselves. Throughout our history, Americans have always preferred more choice and freedom over less. Social Security is no different.â
A Chance Of Winning A CaseSo many individuals who filed for a case would want to know their chance of winning their case. However, there are some factors that need to be considered when filing for a case. Take for example cases concerning Social Security Benefits. It is not easy proving that you have the right to claim since there are legalities involved starting from the time you sign up to become a member of the Social Security up to the time that you are filing for a claim. The most common problems during claims pertains to some information that arise that have not been divulge during the application for membership. You see, there is some exclusion in the contract that you sign. And in most cases, there are members who try to hide some information about themselves that are called for in the application for membership. So problems arise during the filing of claims. The usual problems occur during claims pertaining to disability and death. This is where most of the exclusions are applied. The sad part of it, is that often times the cause of the death or the disability are at the list of the excluded items of the contract. This is also the reason why most claims are either denied or rejected. However, there are legal remedies that can be acquired. Let a Social Security Lawyer examine your case for you since he has a much wider knowledge on the matter. Also, provide your Social Security Disability Attorney with all the details as well as the documents needed in order to know whether you have a case or not.
Ferrara Opposes 'all Options On The Table'Peter Ferrara of the Institute for Policy Innovation has a new publication titled Personal Accounts, Not Tax Increases, a 2-page paper that begins with some history of the advances toward personal ownership and ends with a prescription for "the only way to achieve personal accounts." In between, Ferrara argues that it has been a mistake to consider benefit cuts or tax increases as part of a reform package, as "it was including these options on the table that actually killed the campaign for personal accounts" in 2005. Students for Saving Social Security asked Ferrara a couple questions about his publication, and you can read more of the exchange on the S4 Web site. Exclusive to this site is the following, which argues against the progressive price indexing of benefits: "When I see organizations from Washington telling young people across the country that these organizations will save Social Security for them, and that young people should support Social Security reform, while these organizations are in Washington promoting tax increases on these young people, and Social Security benefit cuts for their future, it makes me ill. Here is an example. These organizations will go to young people and say if nothing is done by the time they retire there will only be enough Social Security money to pay 70% of promised benefits. Then in Washington these same organizations promote something called progressive price indexing, and how does it solve the problem? It cuts future promised benefits so that by the time today's young workers retire Social Security will only be obligated to pay them 70% of currently promised benefits. For young people, that is not the solution, that is the problem."
FACTS ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY SERVICESThere are different types of Social Security Disability Benefits and as members we have to be abreast with all legal components concerning Social Security. One type of disability benefit is the Disability Insurance Benefit. This type applies to disabled individuals who have worked in recent years with the general rule 5 out of 10 years. And also included in type of disability benefit are those disabled widows and widowers who are at least 50 years old and whose disability has been found out to exist over a certain amount of time after the death of either the wife or the husband. The Social Security however requires that the deceased member should have worked the amount of number of years required to be able to qualify him or her of the insurance. For cases wherein the deceased member has a disabled adult child, the ruling of Social Security requires that the child should have been disabled before aging 22 years old in order for the child to benefit from the death of his or her parents or any other member of the family in which he is dependent upon. All of the benefits offered by the Social Security are available for everybody. Interested individuals are only required to have enough credits and a job covered by Social Security to avail of the benefits provided by the agency. Nonetheless, the rate from person to person differs depending on the number of years they have worked and the degree or the severity of the disability. For Social Security related cases there are Social Security Attorneys to turn to. Social Security Lawyers have the expertise and the knowledge to help you through your various Social Security troubles. These Social Security Lawyers can be reached either by phone or by email. Check your state and get to know the Social Security Attorneys in your area.
| | |
Retirement & Social Security Benefits
Jason Bauder
Factors Affecting Retirement Benefits from Social Security
People need to work in order to survive in the continuous struggle for existence. Through work and the salary that they get in exchange of the services that they provide, they are able to make the ends meet.
People usually retire by the time they reach the age of 65. Here, they are able to relax and enjoy the remaining days of their lives with their family and friends, with no debts to worry and no deadlines to beat.
On the other hand, people who had been working hard in the past are also guaranteed of sure benefits by the time they retire through the Social Security retirement benefits. These benefits are hard-earned money and are upshots of the numerous years of toiling.
The Concept of Social Security
In reality, the retirement benefits that can be derived from Social Security are based on three important aspects: the past earnings of the concerned individual, his or her age, and the time they begin collecting benefits.
Here is how it works:
1. The contributor's age
By the time an individual reaches the age of 62, he or she may already obtain his or her Social Security retirement benefits and may cease on working. But for those who are not yet fulfilled with their jobs, they may opt to get their Social Security retirement benefits anytime between the ages of 62 and 70.
However, because one's age may directly influence the amount or the kinds of benefits that he or she may obtain, it is important to consider other savings in order to compensate other financial needs in the future.
2. The past earnings
Not all people are expected to receive Social Security retirement benefits equally. The benefits are not uniform in amount and may differ from one person to another depending on the accumulated contributions based on the past earnings of an individual.
Hence, the retirement benefits is entirely dependent on the amount of the person's past take home pay.
3. The time they begin collecting the benefits.
As mentioned, not all Social Security retirement benefits are created equal. With the new rules of Social Security, the amount of retirement benefits will vary depending on the time the time people will start collecting their Social Security retirement benefits.
With these three factors, one's financial future should not be dependent on Social Security retirement benefits alone.
|
| | |
