Social Security, immigrants and fraud

Washington Times ^ | 8/25/07 | House Editorial

[JohnHuang2]

More than a year after the Social Security Administration's (SSA) Inspector General issued a report highlighting flaws in the nation's employment verification system, the agency has done little autonomously or with other agencies to remedy the problem of immigrants working illegally in the United States. President Bush, now in his sixth year and vowing to finally enforce our nation's immigration policies, should encourage the agency to cease its foot-dragging.

The Inspector General's June 2006 report identified more than 109,000 cases from 2001 through 2003 in which immigrants fraudulently use government-issued, "non-work" Social Security numbers to obtain employment without authorization. Astonishingly, the problem is particularly rampant among government employees at all levels — local, state and federal. The SSA Inspector General estimated taxpayers shelled out more than $635 million in wages to illegal workers from tax years 2001 through 2003. These figures are staggering.

[crazyshrink]

Maybe someone can verify something re Soc Sec for me.

If we have 20 million illegal colonists here and say they are all working using a soc sec # that is not theirs. Doesn’t the employer send in Soc Sec payments to the SS admin anyway, thus adding to the fund w/o an obligation to pay out later?

[vets son]

This is a cash cow for the SSA. Money coming in that never has to go out to the person paying. Imho SSA relies on this money and all levels of government are complicit. Wink, wink. And the American blue color worker suffers the most.

[television is just wrong]

the system is set up to protect the perpetrator. they do NOTHING about it.

and the victims do NOT profit from the perpetrators earnings. YET our govt plans on giving them their earnings in benefits back to the perpetrators.

I have an ex relatives by marriage from Iran. They never worked a day in this country. Went to their Iranian embassy, and today live here in California, collect FULL benefits, and it is LEGAL.

Knew someone else whose son had his SS# stolen. B OF A will not turn the perpetrator over to anyone. They claim the perp is only using the SS# for a checking account and has done NO HARM to anyone.

[crazyshrink]

Interesting. Is this ex relative drawing on their spouse’s acct?

And thanx to all who helped answer my question.

So al this “extra” money goes to SS recipients from a general fund or is skimmed for other purposes?

[eyedigress]

That’s a tough question. I think legally the SSA would have to pay the rightful owner of the number any monies reported. Given that the illegal alien broke the law by using said number they get nothing. JMHO (I know it won’t be that simple)

[Centurion2000]

Knew someone else whose son had his SS# stolen. B OF A will not turn the perpetrator over to anyone. They claim the perp is only using the SS# for a checking account and has done NO HARM to anyone.

IIRC that is a felony for harboring an illegal alien.

[stevie_d_64]

Bingo!

[stevie_d_64]

A simple lawsuit could pave the way for many more to help hurt them in the pocketbook where thats the only thing that will get everyone’s attention...

I had my SSN fruadulently used...I went to go get a replacement card for my SSN, found out who it was, where they lived (A hispanic sirmane “female”)...

The address cooresponded to a junkyard (pick and pull) with an adjacent motel where all bills are paid facility...

They (local SSN Office) would not help me find out what they did with my SSN, or they probably couldn’t figure it out more than likely...It as like going to the DMV office, but 10 times worse...

I’m not sure that the agency can fix this problem at all, nor do they want to, but a gutting of the entire force should flush out the riff-raff, starting at the top, and work your way down to the bottom of about 95% of the entire agency should get the point across...

But we have no one with the courage in the government to even utter that idea...

So nothing is going to happen with this issue/problem as far as I can see...

[crazyshrink]

Assuming he/she claimed it or could be found and was legally entitled..

I thought SS was just a big ponzi scheme where all the revenue is put into one pot and the 1st to eligibly retire get the first $. As the population of younger folks (payers)winnows, the ponzi pot empties leaving the last eligibles to have a place at the hind “boob”. (hind boobs are notorious for little milk production leaving the suckler, well...eh....sucking.)

[leadhead]

As I’ve posted here before, GWB can walk a block from the White House to the DAR Headquarters and find 20 illegals working on the stone cornices of the building. Difference is that 100s of Americans would do this job but at a different rate of pay.

[Just mythoughts]

I think you are partially correct in why this illegal invasion is seen as a gold mine for the biggest holder of “I owe You” scheme on this planet. Now who exactly is benefiting from this cheap labor and not actually paying into the system? Lord only knows.

This whole mess benefits the cream at the top of all societal foundations ... the political... the economic... the educational... and last but certainly not least religious. All are taking their cut.

[eyedigress]

Keep in mind the time it was implemented and the future calculations involved. The program was very near-sighted, and never expected a BOOM in population in 14 years, to last for 18 years. A fatal flaw.

The other flaw was this money paid for infrastructure and was never invested. That's why alot of infrastructure is 50 years old. New taxes must be started constantly to keep up.

The earmark crap is supposed to do this, but is abused to a point that leaves one wondering if we'll ever get out of this mess.

[crazyshrink]

we do know that most of the day labor is done as a cash deal and no SS taxes are paid there.

from personal experience, farmers pay the SS tax on their hired help for the most part. am reasonably sure most reputable businesses do also. especiaslly now since feds have introduced the “no SS# match to every employee = no tax deduction for any wages” policy.

the more paid in by illegal colonists the better tho.

[Wilhelm Tell]

Thats a tough question. I think legally the SSA would have to pay the rightful owner of the number any monies reported. Given that the illegal alien broke the law by using said number they get nothing. JMHO (I know it won't be that simple)

Since we are talking about the Federal government, I am rather surprised they don't confiscate all the earnings of the rightful owner and give them to the illegal alien who stole the Social Security number. That is more in keeping with their mentality and what they think of mere citizens and taxpayers.

[Just mythoughts]

we do know that most of the day labor is done as a cash deal and no SS taxes are paid there. from personal experience, farmers pay the SS tax on their hired help for the most part. am reasonably sure most reputable businesses do also. especiaslly now since feds have introduced the “no SS# match to every employee = no tax deduction for any wages” policy. the more paid in by illegal colonists the better tho.

Looks like you covered all those societal foundations. Too bad the illegals and their bosses do not take care of their medical, educational, and enforcement of the laws that are acceptable to be enforced. I doubt there will be any income tax credits returned for those of us paying those humanitarian taxes. Maybe we need to cook up some scheme like old algore did trading pollution credits???

[crazyshrink]

oh yes, you mean this crap with gore!

http://www.wnd.com/news/article.asp?ARTICLE_ID=54528

I keep hearing the feds have quite a payroll for illegal colonists. When I did psych work for a county gov I didnt run into any of that. Certainly doesnt mean there wasnt any.

I sure did run into illegals as clients tho. Was told similar to Clintoons gay policy for the military...don’t ask...dont tell. Was required to hire translators etc (at taxpayer expense of course).

We did speak during the shamnesty votes tho and were defintiely heard. As Admiral Yamamato said after his WWII attack on Pearl Harbor and I paraphrase: I fear all we have done is to awake a sleeping giant and fill him with resolve”

[crazyshrink]

A decade or so ago there were several ponzi schemes going around. Send a dollar to the 8th person on the list and get a million back or whatever. They were declared illegal and shut right down.

I do understand that pols are near-sighted, blind, deaf, and dumb. They did not even see that life expectancy would increase either.

The SS trust fund has been perpetually raided. For many years, and favor some even to this day, the $ backing of the US govt is enuf to inspire confidence that they can/will cover this shortfall, plus interest. And at a devalued rate. I am not sure many people (conservatives that is)expect SS to be viable for their retirement. Perhaps the tax and spenders do in their misguided opinions.

[Ben Ficklin]

The key to understanding this problem/solution is to look at the legislation, the immigration reform bill that failed earlier this year.

1. Merge the SSA & DHS databases
2. Link the employee verification system to Real ID. Beginning in 2013, no Real ID-no job

These are civil liberty issues, and while there may have been broad support for this in 2005, in 2007 there are some in the Senate who are opposing or seeking to limit. Look at the Baucus-Testor amendment(#1236) and the Grassley-Baucus-Obama amendment(#1441).

[utax]

anyone who thinks illegals won’t end up collecting ss benefits is a fool.

there’s a good reason for the armed guards at the social security office (at least at the one i went to). i predict they will really have to beef up the security in the future.