I must admit, I took the title of this thread as a possible political issue as well; and was completely surprised when the discussion was centered around Social Security. Tom, I know you well enough to realize this was done "tongue in cheek", but it did raise my political antenna.
Since Tim and I had just gone through the process of getting Railroad retirement, reading your experience was just about how our process went and cracked me up that someone else had to jump through hoops as well. We supplied the information, in person, I might add; then had to resupply information; but it did eventually get set up. You can't do RR on line, so that would have helped.
Even though we have been getting our benefits since August, the information provided by RR and SS both state that your are entitled to benefits the first full month after your 62 birthday. So, since Tim turned 62 in June we expected the benefits to start in July....but no, our little RR representative said, they are paid after a full month, so you are getting your July benefits the first of August...<aaarrrggg> This seems so counter-intutive. It's like work, your work a month then get paid, even though we had already paid in. At any rate, at least we are in the system.
Mc2guy:
Being an ever-optimist, I'm hoping we get this straighten out, because it's the young worker who will get raked over the coals either by big tax increases or by no return. SS has totally been mishandled; but we have put into it for years and to just get nothing for our contributions to SS, seems vastly unfair to both young and old. Anyone putting into the system, needs to expect a return.
For me, the biggest issue I see, is with the "baby-boomers" and their personal lack of planning. How many of them are relying on SS as their
only means of income and if it fails, they will have nothing. With the baby-boomers hitting the system, that could be a real problem if it fails.
Tim and I have always felt we could have done far better with the money that was paid to SS over all the years of our working, if we would have handled it ourselves, instead of turning it over to the government.
Marsha~