How bad does the economy have to get before they start withholding social security payments?

[BigBearJohn]

Is it possible or is this just a ridiculous question?

[Idealism]

1. I heard the state of California was issuing "IOU's" instead of some type of welfare

It's getting there...

[sandnsea]

3. IOU's instead of tax refunds

I can't even imagine what's going to happen when people figure this out.

But don't send states any stimulus money for social services, nah, who needs it. :sarcasm:

[Idealism]

4. Florida isn't far behind, too

Thankfully, I have been a-evadin' mofo since '93! :sarcasm:

[ThomWV]

16. Social Security is not Welfare

[.... callchet ....]

21. Wow

It's not welfare if it's yours.

[MiniMe]

22. It is something that we have paid for our entire working lives

Don't tell me, you are in your 20's or younger. Social Security is not an entitlement program, and it is not welfare. It is an insurance program. It is to make sure that when you hit retirement age you have some money to be able to have food and shelter. Everybody gets social security when they reach retirement age. Companies used to offer employee paid pensions. They don't anymore, or very few of them do.

[elocs]

2. If they were to start withholding SS payments, then everything is over.

If we cannot keep our word to our own citizens and pay them what is owed backed by the special Treasury bonds, then what country would ever loan us money because why would we ever keep our word to them either.

[SharonAnn]

5. And, those in power would get voted out at the next opportunity if there

wasn't a revolution before then.

The thing is, that if Social Security were to be stopped it would not just hurt the retired and the desabled. it would seriously hurt the hcildren and other family members of the affected people who now have to support their parents or disabled relative.

Neither the ones who've had their payments stopped nor those who now have to step in and help would like it.

[ThomWV]

17. If it got that bad I don't think voting would be the way they would leave office

[elleng]

6. Wont ever happen.

.

[billyoc]

7. Anything's possible. Get one of these for your hat just in case:

[corruptmewithpower]

8. We who rely on those payments won't just lay down and die.

Well have to buy some really cheap saturday night specials, hunt down the responsible culprits and use some logic to convince them the need to not withhold our payments.

[Bigmack]

9. One of the functions of SS...

is to provide an "economic stimulus" every single month.

Old farts get a check and spend it all... mostly on necessities. Keeps the economy moving. Doesn't cost much, since the program mostly pays for itself. Cheap to administer, too.

The govt isn't going to dump it.

FDR more or less cribbed SS from the Townsend Plan. Dr. Townsend wanted a $200 payment to each senior every month.

[demodonkey]

11. Mostly true, except for the "old farts" part. The recipients are PEOPLE, not "farts".

My mother and now-deceased handicapped brother depend(ed) on social security, as did a lot of my other beloved family members, so I really resent your choice of words.

Hopefully one day we will all be of an age to receive these payments. Hopefully NOT receiving them sooner (like my brother, who died in his 40s) due to disability.

[Hannah Bell]

13. *completely* pays for itself. plus about 8% of the general budget.

They should give working people a refund on 1% of their FICA as stimulus, & let the top 1% pay that 8% out of income tax.

[Hannah Bell]

10. currently incoming SS taxes more than cover outgoes - by about 187 billion.

More's being collected than spent on SS.

If they stopped paying the checks, i for one would march on the statehouse with a pitchfork & rope.

[BigBearJohn]

12. Me too. Thanks.

[.... callchet ....]

20. Social Securities income is from " working people".

[MiniMe]

23. And the people who are collecting it now have paid into it for years

as working people. Most of them have paid into it their entire working lives.

[Vinca]

14. Remember the riots of the 1960's?

Those people are now starting to collect social security and I'm betting there would be hell to pay if they stopped the checks.

[Mari333]

18. damn straight nt

[Mari333]

15. man they better not f8ck with me in 2 yrs

I get widows benefits. if I dont get them I am on the street.

[Why Syzygy]

19. If they do,

maybe the insurance companies who over charged you for prescriptions will refund the charges.

:sarcasm:

[Xenotime]

24. Obama would never let it happen.