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Social Security now running a deficit; insolvency set at 2034; Medicare Even Worse
Washington Times ^ | 06/06/2018 | Stephen Dinan

Posted on 06/06/2018 6:29:23 AM PDT by SeekAndFind

Social Security will spend more than it collects this year, the program’s trustees said Tuesday, marking the first time in more than 35 years that it will run an annual deficit as it slides toward insolvency by 2034.

Medicare’s main trust fund is in even worse shape, scheduled to hit insolvency in 2026 — three years earlier than last year’s estimate, the trustees said.

The twin warnings add even more pressure to a budget already strained by last year’s tax cuts and this year’s deal to boost spending on defense and basic domestic needs, leaving few bright spots in the federal fiscal picture.

The news also produced the usual finger-pointing among Democrats and Republicans, but budget watchdogs said the news was so grim that it should cut through the bipartisan bickering.

“It would be a nice change if this year Congress and the president actually took these warnings seriously enough to do something,” said Robert L. Bixby, executive director of the Concord Coalition.

Social Security has been struggling for years and turned cash-negative this decade, meaning the government paid out more in benefits each year than it collected from the payroll tax.

(Excerpt) Read more at washingtontimes.com ...


TOPICS: Business/Economy; Culture/Society; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: 2026; 2034; concordcoalition; elderly; federalspending; handouts; insolvency; letitdie; medicare; obamacare; poverty; repealobamacare; robertlbixby; socialism; socialsecurity; welfarestate
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To: SeekAndFind
How many people in inner city Detroit and Philadelphia are living on Social Security Disability?

It's time to get the real numbers... it's time to get the truth....

81 posted on 06/06/2018 8:57:03 AM PDT by GOPJ ( Starbucks's a safe place to get out of the rain, cold, & heat and panhandle guilty white elites)
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To: SeekAndFind

Every time i visit a SS office whether to fix their computers or as a private citizen it seems that i am the only English speaking NB citizen in the waiting area...also the thinnest...


82 posted on 06/06/2018 9:05:11 AM PDT by mowowie
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To: rbg81
It’s already insolvent. There is zilch to back up those [supposed] IOUs.

It has been for decades, but now that we have a Republican in the White House and an election coming up, the media can talk about it again and bring up scare stories about how the GOP will cut off grandma's monthly allowance.

83 posted on 06/06/2018 9:14:42 AM PDT by Mozzafiato
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To: CGASMIA68
Serious attack on fraud and abuse would make a huge diff I am sure

Many folks do not report the death of the Social Security recipient as required by law and continue to collect the full amount for decades and even across generations. The Fraud in SS is staggering.

84 posted on 06/06/2018 9:23:24 AM PDT by CptnObvious (uestion her now.)
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To: SeekAndFind

I used to think that the Washington Times was supposed to be more conservative than the Washington Post. This dispels that notion in a hurry. This is a scare-mongering hit job on Trump. Every time a Republican has to run for office or re-election, they trot this out again.

Getting people hooked on the gubmint gravy train is the biggest mistake. Social welfare programs always bankrupt nations. The ONLY reason Europe has carried on with it so long is because they have underspent on defense due to being under protection of the U.S.


85 posted on 06/06/2018 9:24:24 AM PDT by Vaden (First they came for the Confederates... Next they came for Washington... Then they came...)
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To: CGASMIA68

Checking the Social Security numbers of those folks reported dead by the States and cemeteries should do the Trick.

When the SS number of a dead person matches on getting full benefits is found, that should trigger an investigation. The system is unsustainable at best without this.


86 posted on 06/06/2018 9:29:01 AM PDT by CptnObvious (uestion her now.)
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To: CGASMIA68

Checking the Social Security numbers of those folks reported dead by the States and cemeteries should do the Trick.

When the SS number of a dead person matches on getting full benefits is found, that should trigger an investigation. The system is unsustainable at best without this.


87 posted on 06/06/2018 9:29:01 AM PDT by CptnObvious (uestion her now.)
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To: rbg81

YOU back them up.
That “full faith and credit of the US government” means the good old taxpayers get to pay again.


88 posted on 06/06/2018 9:29:39 AM PDT by Kozak (DIVERSITY+PROXIMITY=CONFLICT)
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To: moovova

Sorry but we are doing absolutely everything we can to move our income sources to those that are not subject to SS tax.

The ~$700 or so a month they pull out of my paychecks for SS is beyond annoying.


89 posted on 06/06/2018 9:35:34 AM PDT by Manuel OKelley
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To: Vaden

RE: I used to think that the Washington Times was supposed to be more conservative than the Washington Post. This dispels that notion in a hurry. This is a scare-mongering hit job on Trump.

I don’t understand why this piece should be construed as being a hit job on Trump. Trump is never even mentioned in the article.

This IS a problem regardless of who is the President.


90 posted on 06/06/2018 10:06:48 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
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To: SeekAndFind
IT SHALL BE ILLEGAL FOR CONGRESS...

Conngress should pay back what they stole form We The People and some sort of fine or penalty of some sort. It should be made illegal for CONNgress to take any private funds!!!

91 posted on 06/06/2018 10:38:29 AM PDT by mountainlion (Live well for those that did not make it back.)
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To: SeekAndFind

Any pre-retirement person who thinks they are going to receive anything substantial from SS ought to have their head examined.

I don’t expect to receive anything. You are on your own when it comes to retirement. Trusting the federales with retirement is a fool’s mistake.

Many will not be able to retire. They will work till they are completely disabled or drop dead.


92 posted on 06/06/2018 10:43:00 AM PDT by bkopto
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To: No Socialist

>
Republicans haven’t done a thing to solve the problem.

Democrats push policies that harm social security and medicare:

Obama Care - cuts to medicare
Great increases on “disabled” workers under Obama years. All the incentives were to not work. The more dependent the population on government support, the easier to control, the easier to get votes.
>

Solving the problem = ridding ourselves of the illegality, NOT ‘shoring’ up/restoring SS/MediXYZ.

BOTH sides of the Uniparty are a huge failure in protecting our Republic and adhering to the Constitution.


93 posted on 06/06/2018 12:15:43 PM PDT by i_robot73 (One could not count the number of *solutions*, if only govt followed\enforced the Constitution.)
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To: rbg81

Suitcase full of IOUs:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7GSXbgfKFWg


94 posted on 06/06/2018 12:47:17 PM PDT by bIlluminati (Defund the Left. Shrink the U.S. Federal government to 1897 levels.)
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To: Manuel OKelley

Good for you! It’s YOUR money.


95 posted on 06/06/2018 2:08:49 PM PDT by moovova
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To: SeekAndFind

Perhaps you didn’t read the article. They quote people complaining about Trump and DACA and how that is causing more “Hispanic workers” to leave and not pay into the fund and they also try to hint that Trump’s tax cuts are harming the fund also by taking in less money. The article mentions Trump and seemingly blames him for much of the ills with Social Security.


96 posted on 06/06/2018 2:16:45 PM PDT by Vaden (First they came for the Confederates... Next they came for Washington... Then they came...)
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To: Mr. K
That’s what they get for setting up this ponzi scheme

A Ponzi scheme is entered into voluntarily. Social Security is taken by the barrel of a gun.

97 posted on 06/06/2018 2:32:13 PM PDT by unixfox (Abolish Slavery, Repeal the 16th Amendment)
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To: mabarker1
this is all bullsh!t, there hasn't been a penny in there for years...
98 posted on 06/06/2018 2:47:24 PM PDT by Chode (You have all of the resources you are going to have. Abandon your illusions and plan accordingly.)
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To: SeekAndFind

What’s more dangerous than a retired old man with nothing to lose and no Social Security payment after paying into it his entire life?


99 posted on 06/06/2018 3:44:25 PM PDT by semaj (U\)
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To: SeekAndFind
"So, in order to return it back to its original retirement age, how old should someone be to qualify for Medicare?"

To "qualify" for MediCare, you'll first have to provide a death certificate.

100 posted on 06/06/2018 3:47:55 PM PDT by semaj (U\)
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