Another Tax Payer Ripoff- Social Security / Mexico
THE-M...@webtv.net
Social Security Cash Shortfall Expected in 2010 As Totalization With
Mexico Remains Pending
http://www.seniorsleague.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3395&Itemid=96
Social Security is in jeopardy this year. The Congressional Budget
Office is projecting that the Social Security Trust Fund will run short
of the cash revenues needed to pay benefits. The shortfall will add
to the exploding federal deficit, and President Obama has promised that
work will begin on Social Security reform soon.
The situation raises plenty of questions about the extent of tax
increases and benefit cuts that would be required to bring the system
back into balance.
The White House is also planning to begin work on immigration reform and
the contentious issue of "providing a path to citizenship"; for an
estimated 12 million illegal immigrants residing in this country.
Waiting in the wings is a highly controversial U.S. Social Security
Totalization Agreement with Mexico. The agreement, which has not yet
been approved, is pending review by the President and Congress. TSCL
believes that if put into effect as it currently stands, it would drain
funds away from Social Security needed for the benefits of U.S. senior
citizens.
A critical issue is whether millions of Mexican immigrants who work in
this country without legal work authorization, and their family
dependents, would become eligible for U.S. Social Security benefits
under the agreement. The agreement appears ambiguous on this issue,
and TSCL has filed four Freedom of Information Act requests in order to
obtain copies of estimates of the cost to Social Security. After
receiving the first known copy of the agreement in December of 2006,
which apparently had never been made public, even to Members of
Congress, virtually nothing further has been learned.
Although current U.S. law forbids the payment of Social Security
benefits to illegal immigrants, there are loopholes and exceptions.
Of particular importance is an exception that applies to immigrants
receiving benefits living in a country with which the U.S. has a
totalization agreement. It appears that under the U.S./Mexico
Totalization Agreement, all that any illegal Mexican worker must do to
qualify for benefits is return to Mexico.
Once a claim has been filed, the U.S. Social Security system counts all
earnings, even for jobs worked without legal authorization, to determine
entitlement to benefits.
TSCL believes Congress must ensure much stronger protections of Social
Security in order to prevent the payment of benefits to immigrants based
on illegal earnings.
In addition, TSCL urges President Obama to decline to submit the treaty
to
Congress. TSCL supports two bills in the Senate to address
totalization: S. 42 introduced by Senator John Ensign, and S. 115
introduced by Senator David Vitter. TSCL also supports two bills in
the House: H.Res. 394 introduced by U.S. Representative John
Culberson, and H.R. 160 introduced by U.S.
Representative Ron Paul. H.Res. 394 expresses disapproval of the
Social Security totalization agreement between the U.S. and Mexico and
would block it from taking effect, and the related measure, H.R. 160,
The Social Security for Americans Only Act, would not allow self-
employed income and wages earned while illegal to be credited for
claiming benefits.
Sources:
http://www.seniorsleague.org//index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3395&Itemid=96
“Status of Totalization Agreements,” Social Security
Administration, October 22, 2009. “Social Security Benefits for
Noncitizens,” Congressional Research Service, July 20, 2006.
TSCL Petition In Opposition to United States-Mexico Totalization
Agreement, TSCL, December 17, 2008.
THE-M...@webtv.net
of SS to illegal Mexicans in 2010 ?
Hisler
> What !!! no responses about Social Security...and the possible give away
> of SS to illegal Mexicans in 2010 ?
>
What can anyone say? Just more proof that our two party system is
corrupt and FUBAR. The politicians are criminals aiding criminals.