[Dutchboy88]

"So, if my husband and I have been diligently saving and contributing to 401Ks for our retirement, we are going to be punished by fewer benefits?? APPALLING! Just give me the money back that I have put into SS for the last 45 years!"

Well, all of us conservatives have been pushing for entitlement cutbacks. This is just the beginning of what has to take place or we are going to destroy the country.

But, before you flame me, means testing simply means that if a person has a hoog of money available (pensions, savings, stocks, etc.) and they have a substantial income flow (perhaps $ 500,000 per year?), then they have little need for another $ 30K of SS. A fellow I know made $ 2MM per year (80 years old) and collected $ 50K more per year in SS and used it for greens fees. I have heartburn with that. It was Social "Security", not another retirement plan, folks.

[rawhide]

$50,000 per year in Social Security?

From ssa.gov:

What is the maximum monthly Social Security retirement benefit?

The maximum benefit depends on the age you retire. For example, if you retire at your full retirement age in 2013, your maximum benefit would be $2,533. But if you retire at age 62 in 2013, your maximum benefit would be $1,923. If you retire at age 70 in 2013, your maximum benefit would be $3,350.

[Obama_Is_Sabotaging_America]

Agreed. And there are many SS recipients who EARN FAR MORE IN SS PAYMENTS THRU THEIR POST-RETIREMENT LIFE THAN THEY EVER PAID INTO IT!!! This is INSANITY! Send the old folks their checks, but when they reach the total amount they paid into it when working, STOP THE PAYMENTS.

Otherwise, the Social Security Administration will ALWAYS be in the red and never catch up. The death benefits to spouse is BS as well. STOP THAT TOO.