Trump may let workers take Social Security benefits early in exchange for reduced payments later
Source: MSN
One proposal the White House is reportedly considering calls for letting Americans take up to $5,000 from Social Security now in exchange for delaying their benefits in the future.
The $5,000 would be structured as a loan with a government-set interest rate that would reimburse the Social Security trust fund with interest. Individuals who opt into the program would pay that money back when they start collecting Social Security benefits. Their first checks would go toward repaying the loan, for a period of up to three months. After that, they would receive normal benefits.
The plan was developed by Andrew Biggs of the American Enterprise Institute and Joshua Rauh of the Hoover Institution at Stanford University.
Social Security advocates fear this could be the beginning of efforts to curtail the program. Currently, about 45 million retired workers depend on Social Security, with average monthly benefits totaling $1,503. In a statement, Richard Fiesta, executive director of the Alliance for Retired Americans, slammed the proposal. Asking working Americans to give up even one dime of their future Social Security benefits to survive todays economic crisis is a harebrained idea that would hurt families for decades to come, Fiesta said.
Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/retirement/trump-may-let-workers-take-social-security-benefits-early-in-exchange-for-reduced-payments-later/ar-BB13Vzho?ocid=hplocalnews
Of course, Trump would try to extort Americans in a time of crisis. Give up social security in return for $5,000 to get you by for rent and food for a few months. I can see why Trump is drawn this loan shark type proposal.
BamaRefugee
(3,483 posts)would ever be important to me, but life takes strange twists and now it's pretty much a CRUCIAL part of simply staying afloat.
This plan is just the foot in the door to take Social Security away from everyone.
Skittles
(153,150 posts)they know that desperate people will do foolish things
TreasonousBastard
(43,049 posts)Cicada
(4,533 posts)Also some people will get social security of say $900 per month. They get $5000 but only pay back $2700. Also some people may not expect to live long enough to get social security. They win.
I favor more stimulus payments with no obligation for pay back. But getting $5000 for delay of 3 months social security years from now sounds ok to me.
House of Roberts
(5,168 posts)If it adds up to less than $5000, then that's their ceiling.
Cicada
(4,533 posts)After they take 3 months of benefits if your loan has not been paid back in full then your loan is cancelled. That seems to be what is proposed. So this benefit is a winner for those whose soc security benefits are less than $1667 per month.
Hoyt
(54,770 posts)no guarantee other solutions will pass.
Essentially one could work an extra 3 months to what they otherwise would to come out sort of even (assuming things have improved years from now). And future changes to law could negate negative impacts, if we elect Democrats.
PSPS
(13,591 posts)Taking out a loan on your future SS benefits is no better than using your house as an ATM. Either way, you're heading for eating cat food for dinner in the front seat of your new "house."
Here's a better idea: Just pay everyone a $2,000 monthly stipend for now and make the rich pay some taxes for a change.
Tactical Peek
(1,208 posts)Say, I know who they are and what they want.
Fuck this camel nose under the tent shit!
Why not just pay people $5,000 over two or three months? Just think of people as tiny banks who need a bail out from the government, maybe then it won't seem so hard to imagine.
Hands off Social Security, you bastards!
LudwigPastorius
(9,137 posts)I guess, in the midst of this pandemic, the elderly aren't dying fast enough for him to shore up the Social Security Trust Fund.
Got to coerce high interest out of people desperate to eat and pay for their meds & rent...
Trump is beneath contempt.
progree
(10,901 posts)Last edited Tue May 12, 2020, 01:47 AM - Edit history (2)
then pressure will mount in the future to up it to $10,000. Then $25,000, and so on and so on. Pretty soon you'll be able to borrow half or more of it away for any government-approved "good" purpose. And that list of good purposes will expand and expand.
I like Social Security the way it is -- it's for old age retirement and disability, and people can't borrow it away. Human nature being what it is, too many people would be borrowing too much from it and leaving themselves way short in old age or if disabled.
And the people who will be most hurt by this will disproportionately be the ones who need their Social Security income the most.
If we want a piggy bank that people can borrow from at any age, fine, but that should be a completely separate program.
Another great feature of Social Security the way it is, is the very low administration cost (2% IIRC). But if we start allowing borrowing, and then we have hardship cases, and then we get into HARP-style loan modifications and all the paperwork involved in that, no thanks.
Social Security should be Social Security, a social INSURANCE program. Not a fucking mortgage company.
More evidence that it is a lousy idea. And by the way, anybody who thinks these organizations will be content with allowing just $5,000 of borrowing from S.S. is unarguably a complete fool.
Yes, I'm aware that people can opt to retire at 62 (or 63, or 64 etc.) in exchange for reduced lifetime monthly benefit amounts. But at least it's saved for old age, just 4 or 5 years earlier. And at least its a stream of monthly income, not what probably will evolve into an irresistibly tempting large lump sum. Whatever. That this option exists shouldn't be used as an excuse to justify more borrowing from the future (or just plain taking from the future). This illustrates how any opening can be used to justify a further opening.
msongs
(67,395 posts)dawg day
(7,947 posts)Even Trump-voting seniors aren't this stupid.
progree
(10,901 posts)be raised until eventually it becomes 100% privatized. The camel's nose under the tent strategy.
roamer65
(36,745 posts)yaesu
(8,020 posts)LastLiberal in PalmSprings
(12,582 posts)yellowcanine
(35,699 posts)of change.
cstanleytech
(26,283 posts)BigmanPigman
(51,584 posts)Someone dies or some one knows they are going to die before they are able to collect their fair share years down the road, they can collect it now and use it? This seems to good to be true for people in this group and their families who could use the help with expenses now (especially medical ones).
Traildogbob
(8,716 posts)Give people that pay taxes a half trillion dollar non-traceable gift, not a loan, and let CEOs and cruise ships borrow from their social security. Oh wait, they dont pay into that either. Do not drain the trust fund now for seniors receiving their lifelong contribution and give to very young people who have paid almost nothing in, and yes, may die and never contribute the Payback later. The half trillion giveaway to rich could have given 5,000 a month for many months to actual tax payers.
rainin
(3,011 posts)and loaning to the poor and desperate. Republicans are evil and cruel. Their only objective is to make people so poor they will work for almost nothing
duforsure
(11,885 posts)And hurts our SS. Its interesting he wants to do this weakening our safety net, while funneling trillions to the wealthy that we're paying for. trump and the Republicans don't want the American people to get anything , direct payments or anything else, and are now stalling , which will cause the trump depression to get worse, and last much longer. Trump is making this much worse, intentional?
honest.abe
(8,677 posts)If enough people take this deal it will seriously deplete the trust fund. Once depleted it will force Congress to make changes like privatizing it. This is a scam and people should not fall for it no mater how appealing it seems on the surface.
keithbvadu2
(36,775 posts)McCamy Taylor
(19,240 posts)yellowcanine
(35,699 posts)DeminPennswoods
(15,278 posts)at somewhere around $2800/mo although I'm not sure if that cap is adjusted yearly for inflation. I suppose in some circumstances this might make sense for someone, but with the cost of borrowing near 0 right now, I'd probably go for a loan first.
llmart
(15,536 posts)The maximum monthly Social Security benefit that an individual can receive per month in 2020 is $3,790 for someone who files at age 70. For someone at full retirement age, the maximum amount is $3,011.
Yo_Mama_Been_Loggin
(107,922 posts)Aristus
(66,316 posts)if this is a good idea...