Posted on 01/01/2007 8:04:50 AM PST by WatchingInAmazement
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- After numerous refusals over three and a half years, the Social Security Administration (SSA) has released the first known public copy of the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement. The government was forced to make the disclosure in response to lawsuits filed under the Freedom of Information Act by TREA Senior Citizens League, a 1.2 million-member nonpartisan seniors advocacy group.
The Totalization Agreement could allow millions of illegal Mexican workers to draw billions of dollars from the U.S. Social Security Trust Fund.
The agreement between the U.S. and Mexico was signed in June 2004, and is awaiting President Bush's signature. Once President Bush approves the agreement, which would be done without Congressional vote, either House of Congress would have 60 days to disapprove the agreement by voting to reject it.
"The Social Security Administration itself warns that Social Security is within decades of bankruptcy -- yet, they seem to have no problem making agreements that hasten its demise," said Ralph McCutchen, Chairman of the TREA Senior Citizens League.
The U.S. currently has 21 similar agreements in effect with other nations, which are intended to eliminate dual taxation for persons who work outside their country of origin. All of the agreements are with developed nations with economies similar to that of the U.S.
For example, a worker who turns 62 after 1990 generally needs 40 calendar quarters of coverage to receive retirement benefits. Under totalization agreements, workers are allowed to combine earnings from both countries in order to qualify for benefits. The Agreement with Mexico, like other totalization agreements, would allow workers to qualify with just six quarters, or 18 months, of U.S. coverage.
But Mexico's retirement system is radically different than that of other participating countries. For example, only 40 percent of non-government workers participate in Mexico's system, whereas 96 percent of America's non- government workers do. In addition, the U.S. system is progressive, meaning lower wage earners get back much more than they put in; in Mexico, workers get back only what they put in, plus accrued interest.
"I applaud the persistent efforts of TREA Senior Citizens League to try to get documents from the U.S. Government about the U.S.-Mexico Social Security Totalization Agreement," said Rep. Walter Jones (news, bio, voting record) (R-N.C.). "The American people are finally beginning to get some of the information regarding this Agreement that they have been seeking for so long."
According to the SSA, the Social Security Trust Fund will begin paying out more than it is taking in by 2017, and will be exhausted by the year 2040.
With 1.2 million members, TREA Senior Citizens League is one of the nation's largest nonpartisan seniors groups. Visit http://www.SeniorsLeague.org for more information or to see the Totalization Agreement documents.
SOURCE TREA Senior Citizens League
Just show us the data. That would clear it all up.
Give me a break!
It was fraud by unaffiliated persons!
The scamsters used a similar name with the same acronym.
Crickets...
In the commercial construction industry it isn't all that surprising to have an ICE raid on subcontractors occur and find fellows that have valid SSN and Driver's Licenses and yet find out they are illegal aliens.
You can get the proper documentation, in good faith, on an I-9, pay in benefits against an SSN and after a year or two find out that the employee is actually illegal.
The Social Security Administration NEVER sends back any money. You might hear they have a problem getting a number and name to match up, but they always keep the money.
Why did TREA solicit all the respondents?
What about the notch baby scam?
On the news today: The government of Mexico will be handing out GPS units to assist their subects in entering the USA illegally.
You can't make up stuff this crazy...
Sadly, our self-government is an illusion. The federal government is a bloated machine that perpetuates itself above all else, one that is filled with secrecy and a staggering lack of accountability.
MM
But, you know that it WILL occur, and there's nothing we can do to stop it.
What a world we're preparing to hand over to our children...
Sadly, it is completely believable.
Looks like I'll be writing-in Tom Tancredo for President. Again.
Their biggest defense is not HAVING to talk about it or admit to anything.
Total power, total unaccountability. What was that thing about absolute power corrupting absolutely?
We have no say in the matter, other than selecting our executioner. Would you prefer Executioner "D", or Executioner "R"? Either way, the outcome is the same.
"We The People" have somehow become "Subects of The State," and as such, we have NO say in the matter.
That's the sad reality. We can like it, or we can lump it, but we ARE gonna get it.
For this our forebears fought how many wars?
Look on the brighter side of life.
We're just getting fed the chocolate-covered dog turds that Americans wouldn't feed us.
(Except that it is Americans that are feeding them to us, but that's just a technicality.)
Yeah, the nerve of some people. Don't they realize that no one has any brains at all until they've been here for at least as long as whoever is cutting 'em off at the knees?
The sad part of this is why did it take 3 1/2 YEARS for the government to release this to "we the people"?
I thought we were the government...silly me.
What about it? Is it as bad a deal as what they made with Mexico? Probably!
Sorry, that Emmanuel Goldstein won't hunt.
No one-size-fits-all boogeyman allowed!
It's not cricket to pretend that bad-guys-in-middle-east make it OK to kick the props out from under the country on the domestic front.
Nice try, though. You certainly seem to be earning your keep. I think.
Um... because they didn't want us to know about it?
(That wasn't a trick question, was it? :)
I meant, what's the problem when the above is taken into consideration? You've already said you didn't like the source.
One thing that is consistent on your position on this and many other issues is that you think that "they" are trying to destroy America.
And one thing that is consistent about you is that you don't give a damn if "they " do destroy it.
Done with ya, Ben, go read all that posted data that you pretend isn't there.
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