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buzzroller

(67 posts)

32. SS is already means tested

Reply to liberal_at_heart (Original post)

Sun Dec 30, 2012, 05:40 PM

Dec 2012

in two ways:
It is subject to income tax for people with more income (at 85% of the SS amount), which effectively reduces the benefit;and
It is somewhat progressive in that poorer retirees get back more than they pay in relative to wealthier retirees.
Also, if you take away benefits or reduce them for the wealthy, you could loose public support for SS.

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are there any proposals to reduce SS benefits to the wealthy? [View all] liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 OP

Lindsay Graham has put Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #1

They paid in, the contract should be honored. Downwinder Dec 2012 #2

in theory I agree with you liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #4

I don't think there is any proposal to end their benefits, Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #11

I'm curious meanit Dec 2012 #29

I think I am slated for age 82. Downwinder Dec 2012 #30

Social Security income is pretty much reclaimed in full from the wealthy. Loudly Dec 2012 #3

What is substantial investment income? n/t Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #12

It is not very much and it is not just investment income but any additional income one might get. Bluenorthwest Dec 2012 #17

I have a modest private pension... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #24

Wealthy To The GOP Is Anyone Making Over $30,000 A Year TheMastersNemesis Dec 2012 #5

Are there any proposals to reduce the gap between rich and poor? leftstreet Dec 2012 #6

Lot's of proposals for "means testing." Hoyt Dec 2012 #7

I hope not, because there shouldn't be. It's not welfare. lumberjack_jeff Dec 2012 #8

I'm not sure poor people take SS early.... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #9

my father and father in law both took it early liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #10

There are always exceptions, of course. Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #16

no, no additional income liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #18

Whoa... Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #25

They paid into it and are just as much entitled. duffyduff Dec 2012 #13

it's being discussed because they want poor people to starve while the wealthy use liberal_at_heart Dec 2012 #15

Social Security is one of the most popular government programs mythology Dec 2012 #31

Aw, that's sweet but uninformed. First the GOP says YOU are the wealthy. Are you? Bluenorthwest Dec 2012 #14

They pay their membership dues with their SS benefits, and laugh about it. Sekhmets Daughter Dec 2012 #19

They get taxed on it as part of their high income. mainer Dec 2012 #20

Well, Obama only wants them to pay a "little bit" more in taxes forestpath Dec 2012 #21

Reagan ProSense Dec 2012 #23

I hope not. Cleita Dec 2012 #22

Speaking for myself Turbineguy Dec 2012 #26

I'm against anything that chips away at benefits. limpyhobbler Dec 2012 #27

Social Security's technical name... Jeff In Milwaukee Dec 2012 #28

SS is already means tested buzzroller Dec 2012 #32