Social Security Trust Fund Still Doomed
Social Security Fund Trust Fund Still Doomed Club For Growth Argues for Market-Based Reform Washington – 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 Administration’s 2007 Trustee Report. Released earlier today, the report predicts that Social Security costs will outstrip tax revenue coming into the “trust fund� by 2017. But, of course, the “trust fund� 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. “Social Security’s funding crisis isn’t going anywhere unless we do something about it,� Club for Growth President Pat Toomey said. “Today’s 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 fund’s insolvency problem, but, more importantly, they will also restore personal freedom and independence to America’s workers.� “Some 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.�

Current Campaigns Ignore SS Reform Issue
Dick Armey has a good opinion piece bemoaning the fact that none of the current crop of presidential candidates want to touch this "third rail" topic.

Dangerous Financial Products
Don 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

A Chance Of Winning A Case
So 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.

Wall Street Journal Features Students For Saving Social Security
From the Wall Street Journal: "Founded in 2005 when Congress was debating President Bush's privatization plan, Students for Saving Social Security now works to put social-security reform back on the agenda in Washington. "(...) When Sen. Hillary Clinton said last year that Social Security wasn't a priority, Evan Dent, the group's 24-year-old grass-roots and public-relations director, walked into the New York senator's New Hampshire headquarters in an ostrich suit to deliver an 'ostrich award,' a citation given to candidates who avoid the issue. In recent months, the group has adopted a new tactic: dropping in on campaign events in neon-green T-shirts that say, 'New Hampshire Cares About Social Security.' The goal is twofold, explains Ms. Dent. 'We want the voters to be educated on the issue, and we want the candidates to know that it's a very important issue that they need to fix,' she says." Get the full story here.

President Bush On Social Security
The Wall Street Journal editorial board sat down with President Bush and discussed a number of issues, including Social Security. Excerpt: WSJ: Can I ask about Social Security? You mentioned it in your speech. You also talked about low taxes being important to the strength of the economy. Would you accept an increase in the Social Security tax income cap from present levels in order to get a [reform] deal? GWB: I want people to bring their best idea to the table, and I'm bringing my best idea, which is you don't have to raise taxes to solve Social Security.

SUPPLEMENTAL SECURITY INCOME IN CALIFORNIA
Different states have various laws governing Social Security that is why it is not right to assume that the social security you applied for say in California will be the same as those found in Ohio and so fort. One of the noblest benefits offered by the Social Security is the Supplemental Security Income also termed as State Supplementary Payment Program in California. The Social Security Program is a federally funded program that offers income support for members who are aged 65 or older, blind or disabled. Likewise, the Social Security Income benefits provide income to qualified blind or disabled children of social security members. The purpose of the State Supplementary Payment is to expand the benefits under the Supplemental Security Income. These two great programs are under the management and implementation of the Social Security Administration. The eligibility of those who are to qualify for the two programs are determined by the Social Security Administration by means of the Federal criteria set for Social Security Income as well as for State Supplemental Program. And the benefits are paid in the form of cash assistance for qualified members. In order to qualify, members ought to be aged 65 or over, either blind or disabled. A member’s child also either blind or disabled is entitled to receive cash assistance from either the social security income or the state supplemental program. The process of applying for social security income or the state supplemental program requires the accomplishment of application form for social security income or state supplemental program. Members and beneficiaries must be able to meet the required income and resource limits. Must be a US citizen or may be a non-citizen provided the he or she has been lawfully admitted for permanent residency and has been able to meet certain special conditions or is a US resident. Another requirement is that the member or the beneficiary is not residing in a public institution. If you have other queries you may try to contact the nearest Social Security Office in your state or if not you may try to consult a Social Security Disability Lawyer in your area. The internet provides a convenient venue to look for competent Social Security Lawyers. So start browsing the net today.

Making Retirement Security A Top 2008 Issue
Students for Saving Social Security was up in New Hampshire last week making lots of news about Social Security reform. We got Romney and Giuliani to come out in favor of personal retirement accounts, and we got McCain to pledge that he will not raise taxes in finding a solution to the funding shortfall. You can watch the YouTube video of us with McCain here. Other press includes a radio interview with "Meet the New Press," which is broadcast on WEMJ 1490 in New Hampshire, and this from the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "A group called Students for Saving Social Security sent a woman in an ostrich costume to a McCain event Tuesday and a Giuliani event Wednesday. The group, which supports personal retirement accounts, says it's asking politicians to get their heads out of the sand on Social Security." Keep an eye out for the S4 ostrich as we continue our efforts to make sure that the next president deals with Social Security!

Representative Payee
Not every Social Security member has a spouse or parents to take care of their children. Some only have relatives or nannies assuming parental responsibilities for them. In cases such as this, if ever there comes a time when the Social Security member dies or becomes disabled the Social Security Law permits the intervention of a representative payee to manage or handle all social security related matters of the beneficiary. The benefits for the incompetent member or benefits due to the surviving child or parent which is incapable of handling their own financial affairs are entrusted to the management of a representative payee. It is the obligation of the representative payee to use the provided Social Security benefits for the personal care and well being of the beneficiary. And if ever there happens to be a surplus in the fund, the representative payee must save or deposit the excess on behalf of the beneficiary. The representative payee is also required to provide the Social Security Administration with periodic reports showing where the fund was used. Also, included in the report is the name of the bank as well as the account number where the amount of the excess fund was deposited. However, money is a great form of temptation and so there would always be cases of representative payee squandering a beneficiary’s money. And in order to protect yourself and your love ones from such kind of representative payee it is better to consult a Social Security Lawyer on other legal alternatives that you may undertake. Likewise, you may even hire the services of a Social Security Lawyer in advance to help safeguard the interest of your beneficiaries by making your Los Angeles Social Security Lawyer as co-trustee.

Come Together, Right Now
From the President's radio address this morning: "Controlling spending also requires us to address the unsustainable growth of entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. Spending for these programs is growing faster than inflation, faster than our economy, and faster than our ability to pay for it. Unless we act, we will saddle our children and grandchildren with tens of trillions of dollars of unfunded obligations. They will face three bad options: huge tax increases, huge budget deficits, or huge and immediate cuts in benefits. Republicans and Democrats need to come together to confront the challenge of entitlement spending and ensure that these vital programs are there when our children and grandchildren need them."

FACTS ON SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY SERVICES
There 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.

RELY On A Social Security Lawyer
They say that things happen for a reason. However, there are some things that happen for no reason at all. Take for example accident, what could be the possible reason why you have to meet an accident? You’ll probably answer to teach the person a lesson about driving but what if the person involved in the accident is not even driving a car. What if the victim was just merely walking on his way home? Again some of you may reason out maybe just maybe he has to buy a car…Funny but not quite. And just what if you’re the victim? Did this ever occur to you? Guess not and most people think the same thing. But the inevitable however we try to avoid it still it happens. The best thing that we can do is to prepare for it. The Social Security has a line of benefits that may be of great use not only to us but also to our family. The Social Security agency has come up with great package of benefits for those hard working individuals. Some of these benefits are as follows: Medicare, Retirement benefits, Survivor’s Benefits, Disability Benefits and many more. These Social Security Benefits are great plans however these benefits are not properly implemented. The filing of claims is a long process by itself and the actual doling out of the claim is still yet another lengthy process. And then after you, the member waited for so long you will receive a letter from the Social Security office saying that your claim was denied. In cases, where you feel that you have been unjustly treated and you feel that you have all the documents needed to prove that you are worthy to be granted a benefit claim then you can always sought the expertise of a Social Security Lawyer to help you. There are many caliber Los Angeles Social Security Lawyer that you can conveniently contact either online or offline. The California Social Security Disability Lawyer will help you get that benefit you deserve.

Entitlement Reform 'our Duty'
From the State of the Union address: "Social Security and Medicare and Medicaid are commitments of conscience -- and so it is our duty to keep them permanently sound. Yet we are failing in that duty -- and this failure will one day leave our children with three bad options: huge tax increases, huge deficits, or huge and immediate cuts in benefits. With enough good sense and good will, you and I can fix Medicare and Medicaid -- and save Social Security."

Can Social Security Get A New Deal? (Investor's Business Daily Via Yahoo! News)
Entitlements: In a speech focused on fiscal discipline, the president-elect referred Wednesday to out-of-control Social Security and Medicare spending. Can he tackle these problems while launching a record stimulus?

Can Social Security Get A New Deal? (Investor's Business Daily Via Yahoo! Finance)
Entitlements: In a speech focused on fiscal discipline, the president-elect referred Wednesday to out-of-control Social Security and Medicare...

Baby Boomer + Social Security Cartoons
With the recent news of the first baby boomer dipping into Social Security retirement benefits, there have been tons of editorial cartoons illustrating this upcoming flood on the system. Daryl Cagle has compiled several of those cartoons in a special section of his website.

IGNORANCE OF THE LAW EXCUSES NO ONE...SO THUS IGNORANCE OF SOCIAL SECURITY
It 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 isn’t 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.

S4 On C-SPAN: Social Security A 'Black Hole'
Washington, D.C. – In a Social Security panel held at the National Press Club Tuesday morning at 10 a.m. EDT and broadcast on C-SPAN, Patrick Wetherille of Students for Saving Social Security (S4) warns fellow students to think twice about contributing to our bankrupt retirement program: “Many young people tend to write off Social Security as something that they know they must pay, but are not counting on in old age. But when you actually sit down and calculate that you will pay half a million dollars into a system that you have no faith in…Well, that’s quite a lot of money to simply send into a government black hole,� he remarks. Wetherille is co-founder and chairman of S4, the largest youth organization dedicated to reforming Social Security. Hosted by the 60 Plus Association, Tuesday’s 11th annual forum also includes speakers Ryan Ellis of Americans for Tax Reform, Nancy Altman of the National Academy of Social Insurance and moderator Jim Martin of 60 Plus.

THE PROBLEM WITH PEOPLE LIVING LONGER LIVES
In a speech by President Bush in one of his state visits in Florida he mentioned that one problem faced by the Social Security is the fact that people are living longer lives. This poses a problem for the Social Security since they had base their programs to life expectancy of people aging only up to 60 years old and people right now are living more than 60-thanks to food supplements and advance health technology. This means many people are likely to reach 65 years old and above and therefore requires a much higher retirement pay. The baby boomers also poses a grave threat to Social Security since there would be a large number of beneficiaries living additional longer lives and that would imply a longer years of cash assistance. The ratio of beneficiaries to social security paying members is far too great that results to a big cut in the social security fund. This is a fact that just cannot be simply put aside. Since this will greatly affect future claims. Who knows this is the very reason why most claims are denied? The Social Security Administration is probably just keeping its silence to prevent future hullabaloo. And so for those members who are in the process of filing for your benefits it is best to have a Social Security Attorney to help you along with your claims. Claims have a better chance of getting approved when handled by a Social Security Disability Attorney . Remember that the Social Security has a problem with their funds so the likelihood of denying claims and benefits are there. Protect your rights you are only claiming for benefits that are rightfully yours since you paid for it in the first place.

ON INVESTING: Making An Informed Decision On Social Security Benefits (Shenandoah Valley News Today)
When should you begin drawing your Social Security payments? Most individuals seem to take the money as early as possible. The Social Security Administration reports that almost 75 percent collect early.