The Inevitable Future
Retirement and Social Security issues have become local, national, and international concerns that will also affect each of us on a personal level. Social Security benefits began in 1935 when the depression hit and put many elderly people out of work (http://ssa-custhelp.ssa.gov). Social Security has been around for over 70 years providing a dependable monthly income with automatic increases as the cost of living increased. The Social Security Administration reports that workers need 70-80 percent of pre-retirement income once retired and Social Security only provides about 40 percent (www.ssa.gov). The depletion of funds is becoming a great concern and is also getting worse with each generation. Social
…show more content…
The money available for retirement is a critical factor in determining when a person can afford to retire. If there isn’t enough money to live off of and receive on a monthly basis then it will prolong my retirement and I may have to keep working. Other things that I see an increase in are homelessness and poverty rates because these things happen when people aren’t receiving adequate income to support themselves, especially the ones who are disabled and unable to work. Although this is worldwide concern and most of it is out of my control, I know I can be proactive and take a step to get ahead to save for times like these. Setting up a 401K when I am of age through future employment, contributing to an IRA, or investing might be good choices to plan for retirement. This way if Social Security benefits didn’t exist any longer I would have another source of funds for living when I choose to retire. Social Security was once considered “Americas Family Protection Plan”, because it is not only for those who are retired, but it also provides disability and survivors insurance protection (http://www.ssa.gov). This crisis will have a great affect on many people, therefore regardless of age everyone should have a concern. If it doesn’t affect them specifically it will affect others that they care about including, friends, parents, kids, and
Social Security has been a very beneficial government program for elderly people, and those whom they support, when being an active member in the workforce is no longer an option for reasons such as old age, disability, or death. Destruction of the program, or worse, lack of the aid, would be catastrophic. Without it, it could leave many senior citizens that can no longer
The Social Security system is perhaps the most successful government social insurance program in the nation 's history; and began with the Social Security Act in 1935. Social Security is a needed federal system that encourages income stability to millions of people across the United States. This is accomplished by giving a stable flow of income to replenish lost wages that occur as a result of disability, retirement, or death of a family member. There are about 59 million people in the U.S. that receive Social Security. Most of them are the required 65 years of age or older. Sadly about half of the 59 million people rely solely on Social Security to pay their bills and everyday necessities.
We could save the Social Security Program, if we engaged in some simple changes. There could be some slight changes in the retirement age area and in the Taxes area. According to the Article "Modest Changes Could save Social Security Program" written by Stephen Ohlemacher, he clearly stated that employees are 100% grantee for an full retirement benefit package once the hit the age of sixty-six. It will later rises to the age of sixty-seven for elders that was born in 1960 or later. In addition, employees are able to receive an early retirement at the age of sixty-two, although their retirement benefits would have been reduced (Ohlemacher). Some changes we can apply to the retirement age, is that we could slightly increase the retirement age until it reaches seventy in the year 2027, which would eliminate some shortfall in the program. Secondly, there should be a three-year increase in the early retirement age,
People are living forever. This is not true in a literal sense but the average life expectancy for people in developed countries has skyrocketed over the last 100 years. There are many great benefits of an increased life expectancy that people are able to enjoy in modern society. However, with increased life expectancy comes a greater toll on some government provided services. Social Security is a retirement plan for senior citizens that started in 1935 and lately has been a controversial topic in United States politics. The United States Social security program should be privatized because of its current financial instability and the increased positive benefits to its recipients.
(Life Expectancy) This means, on average, people are around 13 years away from death by the time their social security kicks in. While many people could probably use the help provided by Social Security at this age due to their weakening bodies, they clearly are a much broader demographic and, on average, in less need of support from the program. Many people reaching retirement age in the modern day are still active and take up hobbies. (Novak) Clearly they can still provide for themselves by working. It should not be the job of the government to provide for people who do not need the
In a world where the old are ignored and have no social security to live off from. Where 65 year olds work in restaurants just to make money for basic items to which they survive form. Hoping they never sick because of them know they would never be able to afford medication and surgery. Living with their children in a single home after they are no longer able to work. Their children having their parents are a burn on them after they have so fought so hard to gain their own independence. Social security is a very conversational topic because of old people having a large influence on the American politics. Social security has developed over time and has remained a very important policy in the United States. Raising Social Security has been a delicate process and there are many reasons why people are for and against it.
Even though unemployment has decreased substantially, it is still extremely helpful for people who were laid off, and are looking for a new job. Although the Social Security Act is still prominent in today’s society, it has been changed along the way. In the year 1983, the age requirement for retirement was raised to the age
It will leave my generation, our children and grandchildren, with back breaking taxes, which will have its own domino effect of causing ever increasing inflation. To be eligible for Social Security, which once was at age sixty-two for full benefits and now is age sixty-six and soon will be sixty-seven and as the years go by who knows what the retirement age will be for us. Social Security is paid through payroll taxes which pay for the benefits of today’s retirees. Money in excess of what is needed to pay today’s benefits is invested in special treasury bonds. This system works well when there is a rather high ratio of workers to beneficiaries or retirees. For instance, in 1960, there were 5.1 workers for every Social Security recipient or retiree, but the demographics are changing because Americans are living longer and are having fewer children. Today, there are 3.3 workers paying Social Security payroll taxes for every one person collecting Social Security benefits. That number will drop to 2 to 1 in less than forty years. At this ratio there will not be enough workers to pay scheduled benefits at currents tax rates. The last reason why social Security is unstable is because the government does not guarantee the benefits. According
Social Security is a public program designed to provide income and services to individuals in the event of retirement, sickness, disability, death, or unemployment. In the United States, the word social security refers to the programs established in 1935 under the Social Security Act. Societies throughout history have devised ways to support people who cannot support themselves. In 1937 the government began issuing Social Security identification cards to all citizens. Each card had a unique number that the government used to keep track of a person’s earnings and the taxes collected from those earnings that went to finance Social Security benefits. The Social Security Act is an act in which
There is much-heated debate on the issues of Social Security today. The Social Security system is the largest government program of income distribution in the United States. People are concerned that they won't see a dime of what they worked so hard to contribute into the Social Security system for so many years. Social Security provides benefits to about forty-three million Americans. Not only to retired workers, but also to their spouses and dependents of the workers who die prematurely. It also provides benefits to disabled workers and their dependents. Social Security appears to most people like a simple retirement saving’s account. After all, you generally
Social Security is a real concern, as we know the forecast for social security is very bleak. The system is running out of money and currently there is no backup plan in place. This personally impacts me because I have family members who depend on the additional monthly income. If they do not have this benefit they cannot meet their finical responsibilities, which may require family members to assist them with monthly expenses. This might cause a domino effect in the finances of the family members who are assisting. Many American citizens do not have extra money in their budgets. Due to the strained American economy over the past ten plus years many responsible citizen have depleted their savings account and some also their retirement funds
B. Relevance Everyone is faced with the prospect of living their “golden” years without a paycheck. Social Security will very likely NOT be available to people currently younger than 40 and if it does survive will not be a
One of the very first topics that I will elaborate on is the economic aspects of my later life. As of November 13, 2016, I have had an account opened for my retirement fund. Its pertinent that I, personally have this account. I have this account to be my cushion to “fall back on” if any of my other plans for aging do not fall through. “Currently, the full benefit age is 66 years and 2 months for people born in 1955, and it will gradually rise to 67 for those born in 1960 or later.” (National Academy of Social Insurance, 2017)
The Social Security System is in need of a new reform; our current system was not designed for the age stratification we have at this time. The U.S. Social Security Administration Office of Policy states, “The original Social Security Act, signed into law on August 14, 1935, grew out of the work of the Committee on Economic Security, a cabinet-level group appointed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt just one year earlier. The Act created several programs that, even today, form the basis for the government's role in providing income security, specifically, the old-age insurance, unemployment insurance, and Aid to Families with Dependent Children (AFDC) programs.” Social Security was modeled to aid the elderly citizens, however during the
Planning for retirement should not be based on Social Security alone, but rather by saving portions of personal earned wages and putting finances into long-term investments. Depending on Social Security as the only income after retiring is an unsafe and undependable way to prepare for retirement. People who contribute to Social Security are mandatorily putting money into the Social Security Reserve; this money is used for older generations that will file for these benefits before the younger people working, in the early 21 century, ever receive a chance. Money controlled by other’s hands will never be a guarantee for a secure future, yet money saved by an individual to put toward personal goals will reward greatly. By taking the time to