"If I were to die before my children were out of college, Social Security would pay them a benefit monthly. This is from the portion of my FICA contributions that pays survivor benefits. I paid into the system (a great deal of money), if I die before my children are grown, they are entitled to these benefits."
The laws have changed. They are very limiting and I have had friends whose breadwinner has died, the kids are cut off at 16. Not college.
Dear TVisjustwrong,
Well, according to the Social Security Administration, survivors' benefits are paid to:
"Unmarried children under 18, or up to age 19 if they are attending high school full time. Under certain circumstances, benefits can be paid to stepchildren, grandchildren, or adopted children."
http://www.ssa.gov/ww&os2.htm
It used to go for college-attending children as well. That's changed.
In any event, that doesn't address the main points:
- The self-employed are not singled out for special poor treatment, thus refuting what you said:
"Self employed Americans are just out of luck."
- People who receive Social Security benefits although they never themselves paid FICA contributions are generally survivors of workers who DID make FICA contributions. Thus, these individual, survivors of FICA contributors, ARE entitled to Social Security benefits.
- Foreigners who never contributed to Social Security are most likely receiving SSI, which doesn't come from FICA contributions. Native-born Americans who have never paid into Social Security who are in similar circumstances as foreigners who receive SSI will also receive SSI.
Thus, no benefit is given to foreigners that is not available to similarly-situated Americans.
sitetest