The deficit commission offered a vague proposal for a hardship exemption to accommodate those in a financial squeeze like Love. Hardship exemptions veer into the territory of means-testing, as in welfare programs. Presumably those applying would have to show that they really need their benefits early. That sounds like the tough tests that people face when they now apply for Social Security disability benefits. Some experts say that that new applicants could make the current three-year claims backlog even larger.
“Social Security is not a welfare program,” Love said. “It’s a little nest egg that you planned on. It’s like a pot at the end of the rainbow, so to speak. They should leave Social Security alone. You paid into it. It’s yours at sixty-two.”
For more from Trudy Lieberman on Social Security and entitlement reform, click here.
If Ms. Love believes that "Social Security is not a welfare program", she believes that benefits must reflect what we pay in. Increasing longevity and lower birth rates mean that, without change, benefits will outstrip what we pay in. To bury our heads in the sand and pretend that there isn't a real issue that must be dealt with, will only insure a greater crisis in the future.
#1 Posted by Jerry, CJR on Thu 9 Dec 2010 at 09:17 PM
Jerry, could you please explain your meaning of "...a greater crisis in the future."?
Thank you.
#2 Posted by shadou, CJR on Fri 10 Dec 2010 at 05:29 PM