Social Security Agreement With Mexico Released After 3 1/2 Year Freedom of Information Act Battle

Yahoo ^ | 12/29/06 | Yahoo

[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

[Liberty Valance]

This is not good. The Bush administration kept saying they were being blocked at trying to reform social security. Doesn't seem to have stopped them from being able to give it away to foreign interests. I've got no problem with legal, hard working immigrants qualifying for SS. But illegals who come here under cover of darkness then try to glom onto SS, social services, taxpayer funded health care, welfare and crime should be prosecuted and deported.

[William Terrell]

You mean the facts in the article aren't accurate?

[driftdiver]

"So, do you want Mexicans staying here to collect Social Security they have earned, or wouold you rather they went home when they want to?"

If they entered legally then let them stay. If they entered illegally kick them out after fining them all of the $$ they collected illegally.

Stop sending American dollars to other countries. They don't come back except as bonds to fund our debt.

[Gaffer]

Apparently, this is not your "father's Oldsmobile" of a "bill" but an "agreement" which does not follow standard bill enactment procedures. Regardless, this is a cowardly capitulation of an agreement which was never meant to see the light of day (the public's eyes).

If President Bush agrees with this and signs it, he is no better than the Al Quaeda terrorists who are trying to destroy this country. This shows the moral and ethical depths to which administrators of this country will go to keep the status quo for SS and retain their power and/or legacies.

If this is true, he is not the man I thought he was and it makes me sorry I ever voted for him....

[Dane]

You mean the facts in the article aren't accurate?

JMO, they are tainted since they come from a lobbying group.

I think Watching should have been honest and not hide the fact that this "article" came from PR release from a lobbying group.

[expatpat]

Well, you are mostly right, but not quite. There is a "Trust Fund". However, it's filled only with US government IOUs -- non-negotiable, non-tradeable special govt notes.

[penowa]

"And how do they prove that they qualify? Since they are illegal, they probably didn't provide valid SS numbers."

That's why the amnesty that the new Democrat congress with the help of a bunch of Republicans will send to the President to sign has that bizarre provision passed in the last Senate that illegals using stolen social security numbers and stolen identities of American citizens would be overlooked if they registered with the gov't.

[Raycpa]

Why exclude Mexico?

Countries already having totalization agreements with the U.S.

• The United States currently has Social Security agreements with Canada, Chile, South Korea, Australia and most of Western Europe.

  Country	Effective Date	Country	Effective Date
  Italy	November 1, 1978	Portugal	August 1, 1989
  Germany	December 1, 1979	Netherlands	November 1, 1990
  Switzerland	November 1, 1980	Austria	November 1, 1991
  Belgium	July 1, 1984	Finland	November 1, 1992
  Norway	July 1, 1984	Ireland	September 1, 1993
  Canada	August 1, 1984	Luxembourg	November 1, 1993
  United Kingdom	January 1, 1985	Greece	September 1, 1994
  Sweden	January 1, 1987	South Korea	April 1, 2001
  Spain	April 1, 1988	Chile	December 1, 2001
  France	July 1, 1988	Australia	October 1, 2002

• More detailed information about these totalization agreements can be found at http://www.socialsecurity.gov/international/.

[hedgetrimmer]

Obviously this country must have a death wish

It isn't the country that has a death wish. It is the corrupt politicians we don't have the guts to remove from office that wish our country dead,

[okie01]

What's important here is not so much the nuts and bolts of this agreement, but the secrecy with which is has been kept from public review.

Precisely. The agreements with other countries are a matter of routine and readily available upon request. They are of little or no public concern whatever -- yet they are certainly "public".

But the negotiated agreement with one state is kept under lock and key. Because it really is of public concern...and would be perceived as unnecessarily favorable to illegals and, thus, patently unfavorable to the U.S. citizen.

This is not a good sign...

[1rudeboy]

I am waiting for the Free Trade and Global Economists here at FR applaud this stinker.

What does this have to do with "Free Trade?"

[rabscuttle385]

Disgusting. Why don't they just call it what it is: an extra income tax! A wealth redistribution tax!

[FreeAtlanta]

Which just says that our elected "representatives" know that we don't want them embracing the illegal immigrants, but the arrogant sobs are going do whatever they feel is in "their" best interest and try to keep the voters uninformed and unrepresented.

[PSYCHO-FREEP]

So We're all just surviving under "Tyranny" & "Corruption" huh?

That's what I like, someone with a fresh, positive outlook. With drive like that, we just can't lose!

[rabscuttle385]

It is the corrupt politicians we don't have the guts to remove from office that wish our country dead

...and the voters who placed them there.

Bread and circus, anyone?

[driftdiver]

"Why exclude Mexico?"

None of those other countries have a history of sending massive numbers of illegal immigrants to the US.

[F.J. Mitchell]

Our Government holds America down for the world to gang rape and then call her a slutty bitch for having been assaulted.

This betrayal of trust must not be allowed to happen, and all conspirators involved exposed for the traitorous scum bags they are.

[hedgetrimmer]

Totalization With Mexico Could "Total" Social Security

With Respect to the Subcommittee’s Hearings on the Proposed Mexican Social Security Totalization Agreement

This Social Security give-away must be viewed in the context of the Bush Administration’s affinity for amnesty programs for illegal aliens. A Social Security Totalization Agreement with Mexico, followed by amnesty for millions of illegal aliens from Mexico, could be the largest “rewards program” for law breaking ever conceived by the mind of man. This cannot be allowed to occur

Conclusions of the U.S.-Mexico Migration Panel

[Toddsterpatriot]

The Agreement with Mexico, like other totalization agreements, would allow workers to qualify with just six quarters, or 18 months, of U.S. coverage.

If by qualify they mean legal workers with their own Social Security number, this shouldn't be a problem. If they mean to include illegal workers who stole an American's Social Security number then I say hell no!!