Comments on: The Social Security Administration’s Windfall Elimination Provision http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/ Helping a unique generation achieve financial independence. Fri, 20 Nov 2009 23:09:41 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: barry painter http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122963 barry painter Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:01:39 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122963 To all the do gooders who say people want their cake and eat it too: Anyone else in this country can draw their pension(s) from their private employers and get their full social security checks! In fact Ronald Reagan (the man who signed this discriminatory law into being) got his full Social Security, State of California, Federal Pension, Screen Actors Guild Pension, etc... (Nacncy continues to draw these to this day). Typical Republican bullshit! To all the do gooders who say people want their cake and eat it too: Anyone else in this country can draw their pension(s) from their private employers and get their full social security checks!
In fact Ronald Reagan (the man who signed this discriminatory law into being) got his full Social Security, State of California, Federal Pension, Screen Actors Guild Pension, etc… (Nacncy continues to draw these to this day).
Typical Republican bullshit!

]]> By: Screwed and Blue http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122484 Screwed and Blue Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:15:27 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122484 I forgot to mention, that if they had some kind of warning for people like me about this, I would have paid into US SS to get the additional credits necessary to not be affected by WEP. But they don't want you to know so they can hit you over the head when it is too late and keep half of the benefits you worked for and are entitled to, and thus enrich themselves with higher salaries and pork barrel projects for their cronies. I'd like to see one of those crooks in Washington try and live on the pittance they have reduced me to. Fuck em all is what I say. I forgot to mention, that if they had some kind of warning for people like me about this, I would have paid into US SS to get the additional credits necessary to not be affected by WEP. But they don’t want you to know so they can hit you over the head when it is too late and keep half of the benefits you worked for and are entitled to, and thus enrich themselves with higher salaries and pork barrel projects for their cronies. I’d like to see one of those crooks in Washington try and live on the pittance they have reduced me to. Fuck em all is what I say.

]]> By: Screwed and Blue http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122482 Screwed and Blue Wed, 14 Oct 2009 09:09:14 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122482 It beats me Ray. That's what they've done to me when in fact the bi-lateral treaty they have signed with the European country I live in has stipulations that make it so you don't have to pay double taxes, i.e. be taxed on your income over here in the U.S. unless it is over $80,000, and you don't have to pay SSI tax in both places. Ostensibly the idea of the treaty and certainly the implication or message it sends is that your SS payments here are all you need to get your SS benefits in the U.S. In fact they are supposed to combine the two and give you one payout in either country depending on which you live in, the USA or the foreign country. But there is an inexplicable catch---if you have enough credits to get the minimun benefit in the US and the minimum pension here, then you can't combine the credits and have to collect each payment separately. It is this separate payment of my pension here that suddenly makes my practically minimum pension here a "windfall" which they have reduced by half. Goddamn them, because I am just scraping by, and if it weren't for the fact that my wife is from here, younger than me, and still working, I would be living under a bridge or a flophouse what with the cost off living here and the economic crisis. Windfall my ass!! Fucking Crooks!! It beats me Ray. That’s what they’ve done to me when in fact the bi-lateral treaty they have signed with the European country I live in has stipulations that make it so you don’t have to pay double taxes, i.e. be taxed on your income over here in the U.S. unless it is over $80,000, and you don’t have to pay SSI tax in both places. Ostensibly the idea of the treaty and certainly the implication or message it sends is that your SS payments here are all you need to get your SS benefits in the U.S. In fact they are supposed to combine the two and give you one payout in either country depending on which you live in, the USA or the foreign country. But there is an inexplicable catch—if you have enough credits to get the minimun benefit in the US and the minimum pension here, then you can’t combine the credits and have to collect each payment separately. It is this separate payment of my pension here that suddenly makes my practically minimum pension here a “windfall” which they have reduced by half. Goddamn them, because I am just scraping by, and if it weren’t for the fact that my wife is from here, younger than me, and still working, I would be living under a bridge or a flophouse what with the cost off living here and the economic crisis. Windfall my ass!! Fucking Crooks!!

]]> By: Ray Fantini http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122472 Ray Fantini Tue, 13 Oct 2009 11:21:51 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122472 Why should a person be penalized by WEP if he or she works for a private company in the USA and in a foreign country.Dosen't that individual pay funds into social security and a private pension in a foreign country.That individual has paid into a system where taxes are deducted and calculated for the correct amount one will receive when retired. Particularly in Europe, it is based on a contribution basis. Why should social security become involved where he has no right. Is the US system based on charity or based on what one has put into the system. Why should they think they have the right to interfere in the rights of individuals because they've lived in a foreign country.Perhaps it's time we look more closely into what are legislators are earning instead of robbing the poor. No one is looking for a handout. We are all trying to survive an already difficult economy. Every cent we earn is needed to survive with dignity. Why should a person be penalized by WEP if he or she works for a private company in the USA and in a foreign country.Dosen’t that individual pay funds into social security and a private pension in a foreign country.That individual has paid into a system where taxes are deducted and calculated for the correct amount one will receive when retired. Particularly in Europe, it is based on a contribution basis. Why should social security become involved where he has no right. Is the US system based on charity or based on what one has put into the system. Why should they think they have the right to interfere in the rights of individuals because they’ve lived in a foreign country.Perhaps it’s time we look more closely into what are legislators are earning instead of robbing the poor. No one is looking for a handout. We are all trying to survive an already difficult economy. Every cent we earn is needed to survive with dignity.

]]> By: Robert Benson http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122374 Robert Benson Tue, 06 Oct 2009 00:07:38 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122374 RE: Jim Haskins First, did you know that for military service prior to 1977 or so, Social Security is required to give you additional earnings credits? It really makes a difference - for me, the extra credits gave me $100 more per month. Second, did you know there is a truly excellent software calculator for the WEP, at www.fedbens.us ? Good luck! RE: Jim Haskins

First, did you know that for military service prior to 1977 or so, Social Security is required to give you additional earnings credits? It really makes a difference – for me, the extra credits gave me $100 more per month.
Second, did you know there is a truly excellent software calculator for the WEP, at http://www.fedbens.us ?

Good luck!

]]> By: Jim Haskins http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122373 Jim Haskins Mon, 05 Oct 2009 23:34:29 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122373 As a public school teacher I'm subject to WEP. In calculating my "substantial earnings" according to SSA I found that I was $400.00 short for 1966. Here's the rub, for all of 1966 I was in the Army having been drafted in 1965. Part of 1966 I was in Vietnam. SSA is telling me that the Army did not pay me enough in 1966 to count towards my SS benefit. That one year makes a 5% difference. Totally unfair! As a public school teacher I’m subject to WEP. In calculating my “substantial earnings” according to SSA I found that I was $400.00 short for 1966. Here’s the rub, for all of 1966 I was in the Army having been drafted in 1965. Part of 1966 I was in Vietnam. SSA is telling me that the Army did not pay me enough in 1966 to count towards my SS benefit. That one year makes a 5% difference. Totally unfair!

]]> By: Narendra Utukuri http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122092 Narendra Utukuri Sat, 19 Sep 2009 01:18:53 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-122092 Can any one throw some light on working in a different country like Canada. I worked in Canada until 1997. I moved to the U S in 1997 and became a citzen in 2007. I have been receiving pensions from Canadian Govt. for which I paid my taxes in canada. I am also including that amount in Tax return for the U S. I applied for my SSA benefit from the U S and they are considering my Canadian pensions as windfall income and cut down my benefit. My question is I was in Canada long before I moved to the U S. I was not evena Green card holder of U S. I feel that the rule is being applied to me unjustly. Is there any way I can appeal and get this reverted. Thanks, Narendra Utukuri Can any one throw some light on working in a different country like Canada. I worked in Canada until 1997. I moved to the U S in 1997 and became a citzen in 2007. I have been receiving pensions from Canadian Govt. for which I paid my taxes in canada. I am also including that amount in Tax return for the U S. I applied for my SSA benefit from the U S and they are considering my Canadian pensions as windfall income and cut down my benefit. My question is I was in Canada long before I moved to the U S. I was not evena Green card holder of U S.

I feel that the rule is being applied to me unjustly. Is there any way I can appeal and get this reverted.

Thanks,
Narendra Utukuri

]]> By: Norm Todd http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-121902 Norm Todd Thu, 10 Sep 2009 21:00:56 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-121902 I worked for my father from the time I was 12 years old. He was a great believer in social security. He put in maximum social security for me and my brothers even though at that time we did not need to because our wages were not that much. As a young adult I worked 16 years as a truck driver. I injured my back and at age 33 I was 100% disabled and never able to return to my job. The disability gave me 200.00 a month for about a year until I was able to walk on my own. At this time I decided to go back to school to become a teacher. I asked Social Security if they could help with my books and tuition. The person that was over my case literally laughed in my face and stated I had too much in savings and too much invested in my home to qualify for SSDI. He stated if I had worked my same job for that length of time and misspent my monies then and I had no savings then SSDI would have been able to help me. My wife and I struggled and I competed my college with a teaching credential. I worked for 23 years as a teacher and retired only to find out that I would be unable to collect my full social security. I could have went to worked for other companies who had their own retirement and been able to collect a full SSI and the companies retirement. If I would have been informed before I became a teacher of the later consequences I would have chosen a different field. I do want to state I am not dependent on SSI. I don't care what your retirement status is but rather I feel everyone who has contributed to SSI should be reimbursed for what they contributed. An injustice has been done not only to me but many others including those who are currently paying in to SSI with no real faith that they will ever receive anything for their monies. I worked for my father from the time I was 12 years old. He was a great believer in social security. He put in maximum social security for me and my brothers even though at that time we did not need to because our wages were not that much. As a young adult I worked 16 years as a truck driver. I injured my back and at age 33 I was 100% disabled and never able to return to my job. The disability gave me 200.00 a month for about a year until I was able to walk on my own. At this time I decided to go back to school to become a teacher. I asked Social Security if they could help with my books and tuition. The person that was over my case literally laughed in my face and stated I had too much in savings and too much invested in my home to qualify for SSDI. He stated if I had worked my same job for that length of time and misspent my monies then and I had no savings then SSDI would have been able to help me. My wife and I struggled and I competed my college with a teaching credential. I worked for 23 years as a teacher and retired only to find out that I would be unable to collect my full social security. I could have went to worked for other companies who had their own retirement and been able to collect a full SSI and the companies retirement. If I would have been informed before I became a teacher of the later consequences I would have chosen a different field. I do want to state I am not dependent on SSI. I don’t care what your retirement status is but rather I feel everyone who has contributed to SSI should be reimbursed for what they contributed. An injustice has been done not only to me but many others including those who are currently paying in to SSI with no real faith that they will ever receive anything for their monies.

]]> By: Robert Benson http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-120939 Robert Benson Tue, 07 Jul 2009 01:03:34 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-120939 If we have to have WEP, then at least we should also have really good software for figuring out exactly how much the WEP reduction is - the Social Security site does NOT have such a tool. Check out fedbens.us - you will find it is friendly, helpful, and 100% accurate. If we have to have WEP, then at least we should also have really good software for figuring out exactly how much the WEP reduction is – the Social Security site does NOT have such a tool.

Check out fedbens.us – you will find it is friendly, helpful, and 100% accurate.

]]> By: Joyce Guerra http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-120936 Joyce Guerra Mon, 06 Jul 2009 23:07:05 +0000 http://genxfinance.com/2008/10/30/the-social-security-administration%e2%80%99s-windfall-elimination-provision/#comment-120936 I recently read that Congress was working on appealing the WEP provision. I would like an update on just what progress is being made on repealing this provision. I recently read that Congress was working on appealing the WEP provision. I would like an update on just what progress is being made on repealing this provision.

]]>