[AuntB]

"but should I die tomorrow... Tuff. I ain't getting a dime of that money back."

Not only that, Jarhead, but another little known SSA "rule" that few know about is this...I know because it happened to me. Only the last few years (no matter that you worked and paid in for 40 years!) count toward your SS disability. I was too physically a mess to work and filed for disability, got turned down...now, I didn't realize they automatically turn you down the first couple times...silly me, I thought it was based on reality of physical condition. So I spent the last 5 years caring for ill relatives and grandkids and living off my savings. When I got too ill to do that I applied again and was told I have NO benefits coming...only the last few years, with enough "credits" paid in count. Now, after paying into this silly scheme for 40 years, I was paying SS before medicare came on board, no matter how ill I become, I can get no benefits...zip...gone, forever. Now my home is for sale, so I can have a way to live. Sweet deal, don't ya think???

One day in the SS office, 4 non English speaking Mexicans, all young and strong looking were there to change their address for their checks. All on SSI...which means they never paid into the system. They simply walk into the system and claim "depression, drug addictions, etc. and bingo...instant checks.

This government needs to start looking out for it's own TAX PAYING citizens....FIRST. I won't hold my breath.

[patriot5186]

what a ridiculous SS rule! Common sense would dictate that you take the sum of what you paid into it over a lifetime and divide it by the number of years left (using US average life expentancy). Then again, we're dealing with the Social Security Administration NOT common sense.
We should just end the SS scam now.

[Texas_Jarhead]

so sorry to hear your story AuntB. it's disgusting. I'll pray that the Lord will provide for you. Merry Christmas.

[FITZ]

They simply walk into the system and claim "depression, drug addictions, etc. and bingo...instant checks.

Your story is horrible but I'm sure it's happening to many Americans. Immigrants are also bringing in all kinds of elderly relatives, they find a less well paid relative to "sponsor" them because a sponsor only needs to be 125% over federal poverty levels and then their income gets considered with the new immigrant who can have zero income when applying for SSI. I know of physicians who are making big money who have their elderly parents on SSI and Medicaid but they made sure a lower wage relative brought them in at least on paper. I also know of many younger immigrants who've managed to get on SSI ---they don't appear to be drug addicts or alcoholic and I think they used "depression" for the reason.