The Trump Presidency

[Pete]

I am thinking they will just raise the retirement age every few years so that the people who voted for ending the program get their money and the people who voted to keep the program pay for it but end up with nothing.

Agree, that seems likely.  Wouldn’t be surprised if they vastly increase the number of credits you need in order to get Social Security. It’s pretty low right now. They can raise it so that you had to have made $30,000 a year and paid Social Security taxes on those for at least 10 years or 20 years or 30 years.

[Justwin]

My bet is that the Republicans shift Social Security to a model where it’s based on what you paid in and it fucks everybody who had low paying jobs, unless you were a homemaker in which case they will reward that as long as your husband paid in the maximum.

The amount you get from Social Security is already based on what you paid in.

Not entirely. You could’ve paid in nothing and you can still get it as long as you are married or you meet certain conditions..

Besides being a spouse or former spouse and those eligible for survivor benefits, who can get Social Security without paying in?

[Pete]

It's impossible for Trump to lose MAGA.

In most scenarios, I 100% agree. But we must remember that they are selfish above all else.

I have to disagree.  This is essentially a religious matter.  MAGA, basically by definition, cannot lose faith in Trump.  If they do, they aren't MAGA anymore.

You’re right. I want them to be able to exercise some logic that we can manipulate, but I’m afraid that you’re correct.

[Pete]

My bet is that the Republicans shift Social Security to a model where it’s based on what you paid in and it fucks everybody who had low paying jobs, unless you were a homemaker in which case they will reward that as long as your husband paid in the maximum.

The amount you get from Social Security is already based on what you paid in.

Not entirely. You could’ve paid in nothing and you can still get it as long as you are married or you meet certain conditions..

Besides being a spouse or former spouse and those eligible for survivor benefits, who can get Social Security without paying in?

Cripples

[Justwin]

I am thinking they will just raise the retirement age every few years so that the people who voted for ending the program get their money and the people who voted to keep the program pay for it but end up with nothing.

Agree, that seems likely.  Wouldn’t be surprised if they vastly increase the number of credits you need in order to get Social Security. It’s pretty low right now. They can raise it so that you had to have made $30,000 a year and paid Social Security taxes on those for at least 10 years or 20 years or 30 years.

I think raising the minimum number of credits needed to get Social Security is very unlikely to happen.

[Pete]

Someone who has never paid into the Social Security system can still receive benefits in certain situations:

1. **Spousal or Survivor Benefits**: A nonworking spouse, ex-spouse (if married for at least 10 years), or survivor of a worker who paid into Social Security may qualify for benefits based on the worker's earnings record[2][3].

2. **Supplemental Security Income (SSI)**: Individuals aged 65 or older, or those with disabilities and limited income/resources, may qualify for SSI. This is a needs-based program separate from Social Security retirement benefits[1][4].

3. **Dependent Benefits**: Children or dependent parents of a deceased worker who paid into Social Security may qualify for benefits[7].

These exceptions allow individuals without their own work credits to access some form of support under specific conditions.

Sources
[1] If someone never worked, will they be eligible for social security at ... https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/18uoljs/if_someone_never_worked_will_they_be_eligible_for/
[2] Can You Collect Social Security If You Never Paid Into It? - AARP https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/collecting-benefits-without-paying-into-social-security.html
[3] What Disqualifies You from Social Security - Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/retirement/8-types-americans-who-wont-get-social-security/
[4] Social Security Entitlement | Supplemental Security Income (SSI) https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-entitle-ussi.htm
[5] Retirement | What Income is Included in your Social Security Record? https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/annuities.html
[6] Family member hasn't paid into SS, what now? : r/SocialSecurity https://www.reddit.com/r/SocialSecurity/comments/193tc98/family_member_hasnt_paid_into_ss_what_now/
[7] [PDF] Understanding the Benefits - SSA https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10024.pdf
[8] Eligibility for Social Security in retirement | SSA https://www.ssa.gov/retirement/eligibility
[9] [PDF] How You Earn Credits 2025 - SSA https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10072.pdf

[Pete]

I am thinking they will just raise the retirement age every few years so that the people who voted for ending the program get their money and the people who voted to keep the program pay for it but end up with nothing.

Agree, that seems likely.  Wouldn’t be surprised if they vastly increase the number of credits you need in order to get Social Security. It’s pretty low right now. They can raise it so that you had to have made $30,000 a year and paid Social Security taxes on those for at least 10 years or 20 years or 30 years.

I think raising the minimum number of credits needed to get Social Security is very unlikely to happen.

Ask yourself this, how fondly does the average maga think of a person who makes less than $8000 a year?

[Dugout DickStone]

Populists traditionally do not respond very well to losing entitlement programs.

You touch that third rail and eff with Social Security and you’re gonna lose maga.

They are far too stupid to know.

[Justwin]

Someone who has never paid into the Social Security system can still receive benefits in certain situations:

1. **Spousal or Survivor Benefits**: A nonworking spouse, ex-spouse (if married for at least 10 years), or survivor of a worker who paid into Social Security may qualify for benefits based on the worker's earnings record[2][3].

2. **Supplemental Security Income (SSI)**: Individuals aged 65 or older, or those with disabilities and limited income/resources, may qualify for SSI. This is a needs-based program separate from Social Security retirement benefits[1][4].

3. **Dependent Benefits**: Children or dependent parents of a deceased worker who paid into Social Security may qualify for benefits[7].

These exceptions allow individuals without their own work credits to access some form of support under specific conditions.

Sources
[1] If someone never worked, will they be eligible for social security at ... https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/18uoljs/if_someone_never_worked_will_they_be_eligible_for/
[2] Can You Collect Social Security If You Never Paid Into It? - AARP https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/collecting-benefits-without-paying-into-social-security.html
[3] What Disqualifies You from Social Security - Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/retirement/8-types-americans-who-wont-get-social-security/
[4] Social Security Entitlement | Supplemental Security Income (SSI) https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-entitle-ussi.htm
[5] Retirement | What Income is Included in your Social Security Record? https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/annuities.html
[6] Family member hasn't paid into SS, what now? : r/SocialSecurity https://www.reddit.com/r/SocialSecurity/comments/193tc98/family_member_hasnt_paid_into_ss_what_now/
[7] [PDF] Understanding the Benefits - SSA https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10024.pdf
[8] Eligibility for Social Security in retirement | SSA https://www.ssa.gov/retirement/eligibility
[9] [PDF] How You Earn Credits 2025 - SSA https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10072.pdf

So nobody besides spouses or former spouses and those eligible for survivor benefits can get Social Security retirement benefits.

[Pete]

Populists traditionally do not respond very well to losing entitlement programs.

You touch that third rail and eff with Social Security and you’re gonna lose maga.

They are far too stupid to know.

They’re very good listeners when the right person tells them what to think

[Pete]

Someone who has never paid into the Social Security system can still receive benefits in certain situations:

1. **Spousal or Survivor Benefits**: A nonworking spouse, ex-spouse (if married for at least 10 years), or survivor of a worker who paid into Social Security may qualify for benefits based on the worker's earnings record[2][3].

2. **Supplemental Security Income (SSI)**: Individuals aged 65 or older, or those with disabilities and limited income/resources, may qualify for SSI. This is a needs-based program separate from Social Security retirement benefits[1][4].

3. **Dependent Benefits**: Children or dependent parents of a deceased worker who paid into Social Security may qualify for benefits[7].

These exceptions allow individuals without their own work credits to access some form of support under specific conditions.

Sources
[1] If someone never worked, will they be eligible for social security at ... https://www.reddit.com/r/NoStupidQuestions/comments/18uoljs/if_someone_never_worked_will_they_be_eligible_for/
[2] Can You Collect Social Security If You Never Paid Into It? - AARP https://www.aarp.org/retirement/social-security/questions-answers/collecting-benefits-without-paying-into-social-security.html
[3] What Disqualifies You from Social Security - Investopedia https://www.investopedia.com/retirement/8-types-americans-who-wont-get-social-security/
[4] Social Security Entitlement | Supplemental Security Income (SSI) https://www.ssa.gov/ssi/text-entitle-ussi.htm
[5] Retirement | What Income is Included in your Social Security Record? https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/planner/annuities.html
[6] Family member hasn't paid into SS, what now? : r/SocialSecurity https://www.reddit.com/r/SocialSecurity/comments/193tc98/family_member_hasnt_paid_into_ss_what_now/
[7] [PDF] Understanding the Benefits - SSA https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10024.pdf
[8] Eligibility for Social Security in retirement | SSA https://www.ssa.gov/retirement/eligibility
[9] [PDF] How You Earn Credits 2025 - SSA https://www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10072.pdf

So nobody besides spouses or former spouses and those eligible for survivor benefits can get Social Security retirement benefits.

Yes, you’re right. Technically, the other categories called supplemental Social Security benefits, but I think for the purposes of this conversation, we can agree that it should be lumped into the same.

[Pete]

I am intrigued by the idea of upping the minimum.  it does seem like the minimum is pretty darn low. If you are incapable of getting over the minimum, I think you have a very good argument that you probably qualify for supplemental Social Security due to disability.

[Justwin]

If you are interested in thinking about ways to make Social Security solvent, this is a pretty good interactive tool.

https://www.crfb.org/socialsecurityreformer/

[Dugout DickStone]

Old maga would love to increase the age.  Nothing they’d love more than to pull the ladder up behind themselves. 

[Kat Kid]

My bet is that the Republicans shift Social Security to a model where it’s based on what you paid in and it fucks everybody who had low paying jobs, unless you were a homemaker in which case they will reward that as long as your husband paid in the maximum.

The amount you get from Social Security is already based on what you paid in.

Not entirely. You could’ve paid in nothing and you can still get it as long as you are married or you meet certain conditions..

Besides being a spouse or former spouse and those eligible for survivor benefits, who can get Social Security without paying in?

Disabled, orphans, probably forgetting some other categories

[Dugout DickStone]

If you could opt out we’d just have idiots running out of money and demanding a handout like now. 

[Justwin]

My bet is that the Republicans shift Social Security to a model where it’s based on what you paid in and it fucks everybody who had low paying jobs, unless you were a homemaker in which case they will reward that as long as your husband paid in the maximum.

The amount you get from Social Security is already based on what you paid in.

Not entirely. You could’ve paid in nothing and you can still get it as long as you are married or you meet certain conditions..

Besides being a spouse or former spouse and those eligible for survivor benefits, who can get Social Security without paying in?

Disabled, orphans, probably forgetting some other categories

The only thing you can get without paying any taxes is SSI which is not a Social Security program. It is run by the Social Security Admininstration, but is a separate program from those funded with Social Security taxes. SSI is funded by general taxes.

[Justwin]

If you could opt out we’d just have idiots running out of money and demanding a handout like now.

That's why you would put minimum net worth requirements in order to opt out.

[Kat Kid]

My bet is that the Republicans shift Social Security to a model where it’s based on what you paid in and it fucks everybody who had low paying jobs, unless you were a homemaker in which case they will reward that as long as your husband paid in the maximum.

The amount you get from Social Security is already based on what you paid in.

Not entirely. You could’ve paid in nothing and you can still get it as long as you are married or you meet certain conditions..

Besides being a spouse or former spouse and those eligible for survivor benefits, who can get Social Security without paying in?

Disabled, orphans, probably forgetting some other categories

The only thing you can get without paying any taxes is SSI which is not a Social Security program. It is run by the Social Security Admininstration, but is a separate program from those funded with Social Security taxes. SSI is funded by general taxes.

I take your point about the social security administration administering programs that are not “social security.”

My bias is toward giving them more responsibilities—like direct payments for the child tax credit instead of a tax credit for instance. The SSA is a very efficient government program.

[michigancat]

I think we should remove the annual contribution cap

[Dugout DickStone]

My tea leaves have spoken:  the number of actual illegal aliens taken off of social security will never be revealed.

[bucket]

Kids!

Perfect example of the incongruity of the pro-life’ers.

WWJD?  Not any more. eff them kids, I guess.

This and celebrating or remaining silent about USAID being shuttered

[sonofdaxjones]

I am not the least bit surprised that people like bucket do not get that the majority of USAID was nothing but a series of fronts for the intelligence complex and/or a method for #blueanon wonks to funnel millions (collectively billions) to censorship and news controllers, of which many fueled the mockingbird level of anti - non #bluanon politician propaganda.

At the end of the day, it's very clear that #blueanon absolutely hates a free press, and #blueanon go to media is only a stenographer and regurgitator of the narrative that they are fed by the DC Blob.

[bucket]

I am not the least bit surprised that people like bucket do not get that the majority of USAID was nothing but a series of fronts for the intelligence complex and/or a method for #blueanon wonks to funnel millions (collectively billions) to censorship and news controllers, of which many fueled the mockingbird level of anti - non #bluanon politician propaganda.

At the end of the day, it's very clear that #blueanon absolutely hates a free press, and #blueanon go to media is only a stenographer and regurgitator of the narrative that they are fed by the DC Blob.

Why not shutter the bad stuff and keep the vaccine, HIV and Sorghum programs?

[Stevesie60]

Here's a thought I've been working on since President Elon took over. And it's not solidified, so I'd love any and all feedback.

Let's say right now the US pays x number of dollars into a fund. It costs every US resident, personally, $1000 a year. This fund helps children around the world receive food, medicine, education, AIDS treatment, etc. And let's say this fund gets axed by President Musk. Every individual gets to keep their $1000 this year and one, JUST ONE!, 5 year old in Uganda loses their life because they no longer get their AIDS treatment.

Do you take that trade? And when you think of which party is cheering on the "cutting funds and asking questions later" approach to government, what political party do you think of? The pro-life one, or the pro-choice one? And when you think about the fact that it's actually costing you way less than that, then why tf do you care about this crap at all?

I don't know, I would absolutely love for someone to find a way that would allow me to keep more of my taxes. But I would love for it to come from people who don't need it, not the people who need it the most.