Letter to the Editor
Rip-offs
Published Thursday, May 15, 2008
May 9, 2008
To the editor:
Social Security and unemployment are rip-offs.
Why should anyone have to have Social Security and unemployment withheld when it comes time to collect them. You have to jump through hoops and hire a lawyer to get it. Also, Alaska is an at-will state, so we should be able to get our unemployment if we quit, get laid off or fired.
I quit working for my employers for reasons considered by the state not to be legitimate. I’m also a diabetic who has had two heart attacks, but Social Security doesn’t consider it as a reason for being disabled, so I can’t get that. I want to see some of our government leaders have the guts to pass laws that make it so we either get what we paid into Social Security and unemployment or they stop collecting the tax.
Pamela Orr
Two Rivers
Community Discussion
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From my experience as an employer the unemployment office does great research into the situation of an employee leaving. There is also an appeal process at always results in a hearing phone or in person, for each side to discuss the situation and the office to make a final decision.
We pay into SS and unemployment, so that if we ever find our self in a situation that we have no other option, we are disables or old enough to collect, we can. Unemployment is a temporary fix, not to be used as a crutch, and SS is something I hope to never need, until I retire.
It is each of our responsibilities to plan for ourselves and our family for both now and in the future.
I am by no means saying that help should not be available to people who need it, it is just abused a lot and that makes the need for more rules governing who does and does not qualify.
I agree with fbkreader and it sounds like the author is looking for a free ride then complaining because it isn't there.
I, as an employer, pay as much for YOUR social security as you do BTW.
My knee hurts a little bit when it rains....maybe i can get social security benefits whenever the weather is a little overcast????
"Alaska is an at will state" please explane. :I do agree you should be able to collect un employment, up to the amount you paid into it while you were WORKING,, SS has been destroyed by our wonderfull elected officals who can not stand to see any money not in their control,, to give away as they see fit, not where it was intended to go. If you are looking for a place where the government takes care of everything, move to CUBA, I think it is also a "AT WILL" country...
Bugger- the term used "at will state" refers to work. You work "at will", if you quit or are fired there is no explination needed; you worked "at (your own) will". Your employeer can fire you "at(there own) will".
I do believe that Pamela's issue with having two heart attacks not being a reason for SS benefits is open to question. If she has been cleared for a doctor that is one thing. The fact she has had TWO heart attacks makes me ask what caused the second and will it also cause a third if she is stressed? If a working enviornment can cause her to have a third that she might not live through then what is the hold up?
I do not like people that can work and dont because the system allows for that. I do feel that if someone is legitimately unable to contribute and has paid into their SS enough that they have been told they would recieve benefits if they become disabled they should get them without impurtinances from the courts. Thats my view anyway.
Ms Orr may have legitimate concerns, diabetes can be a debilitating disease. I don't think it is akguy's (or anyone else in this forum) place to judge her case without knowing all the details of her medical history including the type and severity of her disease and her attempts to manage the disease through proper medical intervention, diet, exercise, and other healthy lifestyle choices. I think that she just needed to vent and maybe bring awareness to the plight of diabetics.
I am sick and tired of supporting individuals on social security disability and welfare who choose not to work. Why should I bust my butt to enable a drug addict or depressed person to stay at home, get high and play Everquest all day?
Every time I've had to sign something stating that my employment status was 'at will' of my employor, I've made it a point to terminate my employment at the most inconvient time to my employor. When asked why I didn't give two weeks notice I've reminded them that they never intended to grant me such curtesy.
Take note imployers, what goes around comes around.
lfreeman - I do not see where anyone here has negated the need for the programs. Just that they are often abused and there is a need to make rules on how and if you qualify. If the writers intent was to inform people or as you said "bring awareness to the plight of diabetics. " This was not the way it comes across. I read the letter and I hear loud and clear "either pay me the money I paid out while working or don't take the money when I do work." although this might sound good the system is not built to act as a savings account, where we can take the money out as we wish.
Hay I'm not asking for a free ride. This is the first time I applied for unemployment. And it was just to help until I find other unemployment.
I'm 54 years old and this is the first time I've found myself out of work since I was 13. All that time I paid my SS and unemployment.
I left my job because I was discovered illegal activity taking place there and reported it. The state told me that it shouldn't of mattered to me what was going on there.
I looked into the Social Security when I had my two heart attacks caused by the stress.
So don't accuse me of asking for a free handout.
What whiners. Somebody call the WHAAAAAAAAMbulance
Oh yes. I've been applying for jobs but have been turned down because they feel I'm a high risk with the health issues. The diabetes and stress has affected more than just the heart and I have to take off work for treatments. Plus anyone with diabetes know the side affects of the medications.
And as far as you paying for it, I paid it. I'm just asking for what I paid in you can keep your own money. Right now I'm trying to decide if I should just stop my medications all together and see if it will at least relieve some of the side affects.
Those who say collecting Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) is a "free ride" and people on SSDI can "choose not to work" are obviously ignorant of the system. It is VERY difficult to get SSDI benefits when you do need them even though you pay into the system when working.
Do a little research before YOU need to use the system. . . and you never know when injury or illness will put YOU in the position of needing it!
Consider just two statistics:
The average monthly Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) benefit is $978. (Social Security Administration, Fact Sheet 2007)
Less than half - 39% - of the workers who applied for SSDI benefits in 2005 were approved. (Social Security Administration, Office of Disability and Income Security Programs)
The average period of time from applying for benefits until receiving them is more than 2 years for those few who actually get approved.
The definition of disability under Social Security is different than other programs. Social Security pays only for total disability. No benefits are payable for partial disability or for short-term disability.
"Disability" under Social Security is based on your inability to work. They consider you disabled under Social Security rules if:
* You cannot do work that you did before;
* They decide that you cannot adjust to other work because of your medical condition(s); AND
* Your disability has lasted or is expected to last for at least one year or to result in death.
Disability examiners consider whether you can do ANY job ON THE NATIONAL ECONOMY for which you are qualified by education or experience.
endotheroad- Great information, thanks for the insight, I agree we all need to be more educated on the systems so that in the unfortunate case of need we are able to get help.
How can it NOT be a free ride when an 18 year old individual, who was formerly a ward of the state with NO work history and NO job training or experience, can qualify for SSDI because he or she is "disabled" (i.e. has suicidial/homocidal ideation and is depressed)????? Gee, that sounds like me every time I get a fuel bill. This person has never worked a day of his or her life before and has ABSOLUTELY NO INTENTION OF WORKING as long as the government continues to pay up every month. This partiucular person sits in front of a computer playing on-line video games for 20 HOURS A DAY while neglecting his or her child. This person had been depressed and suicidal for the last 12 years and there is no end in sight. How is this not a free ride? The big "rip-off" is that there will not be any money left in the system if I ever need to use it because of the people who are abusing
I can't help but link diabetes (mellitus type II most likely) and two heart attacks to obesity. This is clearly speculation, but perhaps if you had listed hyperobesity as your "disease" for needing to collect social secuity, perhaps they'd dish it out then.
However in your spare time, maybe try and lose some weight and see if you still don't feel like working. If that doesn't work for you, there are still jobs out there that don't require much physical activity.
You're right though, Social Security is a rip off. Tax payers like me and the rest of America (the part that pays their taxes at least) give money into this fund that we will never see ever again. Enjoy your carefree life living off the sweat of others, the true American way.
I'm actually trying to find the funds to start an inhome bookkeeping business and say heck with the ss and unemployment or outside work.
Where I ran into problems with the health is it took the doctors so long to diagnose the diabetes the other damage has been done. It took them 10 years for that and over 5 years to diagnose a fractured shoulder. All that time I never asked for help. I just wrote this letter to let others know that don't count on anything or anyone but yourselves.
I can empathise with Ms. Orr's predicament. I'm sure we've all had friends or relatives over the years who've had to deal with the situation of suddenly being unemployable due to injury or illness.
The harsh reality is that, insurance companies (including government funded ones) are not in business to give out money. But unlike most insurance companies, your mandatory SS and AK Unemployment taxes don't come with a list of excluded causes.
Some of my acquaintances have taken advantage of Federal OCC retraining programs. Those who's illnesses prevent them from maintaining regular hours at a full time job, have been able to start their own home based businesses, and as a result kept their homes, and avoided bankruptcy.
So, Ms. Orr, I realize right now you're in a dark place, maybe you have a friend or relative with some creative ideas, and/or advise about programs you could be eligible for. Eventually, you may find a light out of this tunnel.
-RK
If when we are employeed we are given an option to either pay into the SS or Unemployment Tax or put it in our own savings. The employer wouldn't have the expense or responsibility for taking it out. I'm an experienced bookkeeper. When you have an employee it costs you almost twice what you're paying them by hour due to costs of taxes and any other benefits you have to provide.
SS is a scam. The maximum benefits you will ever recieve, retirement or disabliltiy, will leave you far below the poverty line. A significant majority of the population that pays into SS will never come close to receiving benefits equal to what they paid in. SS should be eliminated and the money, both employee and employer contributions, should be paid to the employee to be able to put into their 401(k), or equivilant retirement account.
I am surprized more folks do not know the key to success?
If you live within your means, or below, you will always be able to save, save , save, then when the rainy day comes along you do not have to rely on anyone , but yourself. Being independent is the key to success, now that is only my opinion.
Alaskastoryteller wrote:
"I'm actually trying to find the funds to start an inhome bookkeeping business and say heck with the ss and unemployment or outside work."
"I'm an experienced bookkeeper. When you have an employee it costs you almost twice what you're paying them by hour due to costs of taxes and any other benefits you have to provide."
First of all, you should not have been denied unemployment for quitting your job (I believe there is one additional waiting week.), unless you told them you were unwilling or unable to look for and accept new employment.
Secondly, if you start your own at-home business, you will still be required to pay into Social Security. It's called Self-Employment Tax.
Thirdly, your statement "When you have an employee it costs you almost twice what you're paying them by hour due to costs of taxes and any other benefits you have to provide" simply is not true.
If you are a qualified bookkeeper, you should know these things. Be careful that you do not take on bookkeeping responsibilities for which you are not qualified. There could be serious liability issues, not to mention ethical ones.
You might want to get a second opinion on your unemployment decision. It sounds like you should be eligible, as long as you have a solid work history and are willing to continue working.
I am a qualified bookkeeper (over 20 years) thank you. And if you breakdown the costs if you pay someone $14 hr it also costs you their workmans comp, insurance and unemployment taxes. Plus the bookkeeping time to keep track of payroll. If this isn't the case how come temporary agencies charge you twice as much as they are paying that placement.
On a medical view, not too many employers would want to hire someone that has to go in for medical treatment all the time I'm at the advanced stages of diabetes and have irreversible damage to the liver. If I work for myself I can at least control the hours by working at night from my home. My husband is also disabled with Peripheal Vascular Disease and doctors don't want him to work either.
He does get VA benefits but it doesn't come close to covering costs of living.
Also with the rising costs of gas what I would get paid to work in town won't cover that cost.
With what we owe due to my medical problems we couldn't afford to sell out to pay off the medical bills and find somewhere else closer to town. Our property isn't worth that much. I'm not asking for handouts or pity I'm just wanting others to be alert of what their options would be. I for one am not afraid of the dieing part just want to help others before it happens.
Good discussion all around, even those who need to vent, but not contribute to the topic. Nobody wants the government to support those who could and should be working, agreed? To those of you who think you need the government's help...take a look around. If there's something you can do to help yourself, try it. If it doesn't work out, try something else. Don't give up. You don't have to go too far to see someone who's way worse off than you.
It has been over a month and I'm still denied benefits. I understand an employer not wanting to hire me because of my health. I probably wouldn't hire me. At the same time they say I'm not employable the state and social security say I'm not disabled. I checked into the cross training and was told I'm not eligible for that either. I also checked into hiring an attorney like they recommended and don't have the funds for that. Yes I agree there are alot of folks a lot worse off than me and are in the same boat. Maybe I can raise chickens.
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