In case you have never heard of Social Security or
are a bit unsure as to what exactly it is- here is a brief definition: Social Security
is a type of social insurance meant to protect citizens from succumbing to
financial troubles from unemployment or underemployment due to age, disability,
and other special circumstances (ideally). Funds for Social Security
benefits are pulled from federal payroll taxes and are then paid to the
citizen when they qualify for benefits under certain criteria. Social Security
comes out of the worker’s paycheck and it is paid back to them once they need it
due to retirement, disability, or death – if a worker dies before collecting
benefits, Social Security is typically paid out to their spouse or family. The threat of Social Security becoming a thing of the past is nearing closer to reality. The government has had to restructure the program many
times to ensure benefits to the current recipients of SSI, but future generations may possibly never collect benefits.
The
Purpose of Social Security
Social Security is meant to act as the groundwork
for financial refuge for millions of people in the United States. SSI benefits
are available to retirees, family of retirees, disabled workers, and the
families of deceased workers. This social insurance is meant to act as a safety
net to those in this population that cannot provide for themselves or their
families.
New
SSI Laws
Over the past few months, the debate on Social
Security benefits has come to a heated boil. The government just recently made
last minute changes to payroll taxes to keep funding SSI in the latest fiscal
cliff deal. As MSN
Money points out, the passed rate increase of 1.7% in
issued benefits pales in comparison of the 3.6% cost of living increase
retirees received in 2012. Another major change is to the earning cap; for people
who turn 66 in 2013 the earning limits will be $40,080, after which $1 of every
$3 earned will be withheld.
How
to Protect Yourself
Since Social Security
is not something you can currently, and will probably never be able to, opt out
of, there is not much you can do as a civilian when it comes to SSI laws and
benefits. The best way to plan for your future is to take matters into your own
hands and start saving for retirement as soon as possible. Many employers offer
savings programs like a 401K which deducts a percentage of your check,
pre-taxes, and collects interest over time. Other alternatives include high
interest savings accounts from credit unions and private financial
institutions. If you are wondering how much you need to save for retirement,
that can be a tricky question to answer; everyone will need to save a different
amount based on their individual expenses. A recent article on
Time.com explains why people need save different amounts and
offers resources for determining your individual retirement needs. If
retirement is not why you count on SSI and your need is related to a
disability, the best option is to purchase a privately held disability
insurance plan that will protect you and your family if the situation arises.
0 comments:
Post a Comment