U.S. Social Security
 

In another thread, it was stated that "Canadian snowbirds"add a lot of dollars to the U.S. and it costs the U.S. nothing.

One of our former neighbors was a Canadian snowbird and had worked in the States during the times he and his wife were here. Both he and his wife collected Social Security each month. This was the first I knew a non-citizen could get Social Security and also for his wife who had never worked in the U.S.

I realize they would have paid US taxes on the money earned and also contributed to FICA. However, in the end, they may end up costing the U.S. depending how much Social Security they collect.

Good points. I think a major question is why our immigration and IRS monitor so capably and effectively our northern border entrants' immigration documentation and status, but not the southern border entrants. Somebody wants and allows the difference in surveillance, registration, and accounting.

I think I can answer that? They have money to take. The northern border willing to work with us not against us. Going southwest can't get blood from turnip. Unless if comes from Reefer's cash or Florida Snow.

Although they are not US citizens, they are here legally with a green card and able to get work and pay taxes. They can collect SS when they reach the right age and has worked for 10 yrs. His wife would collect 1/2 his. Years ago it was very easy to come to US, basically buy a airplane ticket or drive. Once here, apply for a SS card and drivers license and you are good to go. Very easy. They may also be eligible of medicare. One other thing, you would need a sponcer to get a green card.

North = work. South = free.

It was the Chinese that built our railroads for free. Fortunately, we now have the Mexicans to work in our restaurants, yard work and construction for almost nothing. We have to keep those profits up! I wonder why we don't see many Mexicans working in Starbucks. Must be one of the good jobs with health care and college assistance. Only in America are we allowed to take advantage of the latest immigrants.

And the latest immigrants are allowed to take advantage of us.

Just before we moved here year 'round in Cincinnati where we lived I was standing in the grocery behind a young couple with their baby, obviously Hispanic. I waited for a long time while they put their groceries in order, all of the fruits and vegetables check, they handed the checker a slip of paper. Then all of their canned goods, check, another piece of paper, Then paper products. etc. etc.
When they left I asked the check out person what was all that paper? And she said that it was vouchers for Aid to Dependent Children. the young family had just arrived and needed help.

I am the granddaughter of immigrants. My father was the first in his family able to attend college. My grandparents and aunts and uncles worked hard and not one of their children or grandchildren have yet to get in trouble with the law, they all have taken care of themselves. At the time my grandfather immigrated from Germany, he had to have a sponsor and he was indentured for awhile. I too believe our lifeblood is our cultural diversity, but people have to be able to make their own way if they plan to make such a big move. I see people working hard here from other countries and I know they won't stay in menial jobs very long. They will succeed just like my family. But we cannot encourage people to live off of us without working.

My cousin from Sweden visited recently, and I asked her who did the less than desirable work there. She said that it was Algerians and Moroccans. So I doubt if we have the corner on taking advantage of the latest immigrants.

And who do you think took advantage of these workers that built the railroads? Immigrates that immigrated here.:oops: Since the beginning of time someone has been taken advantage of some on else. No one had to immigrate. the do it to get out of the S%%%HOLE country their in.

Our current laws require that anyone petitioning to immigrate must prove that they are self sufficient and will not be a burden on the U.S. Our government has chosen to ignore that law as well as refusing to enforce virtually all other immigration laws. Yes, we Americans really take unfair advantage...NOT!

The original thread you were referring to would account for somewhere in the 90 percentile of Canadian Snowbirds. Canadian Snowbirds are typically retired so they would not and should not get any benefits from the US. We understand that monies made on properties owned in the US would be subject to appropriate taxation and we pay that with a smile on our face. We have our own hospitalization when up North and pay for health care when we are down south. We certainly would not want anything for nothing.

We love the country, the people, the weather, and more importantly, the way of life. We pay a full year of costs for 6 months of paradise...what a deal! We can't wait to get down there again to spend more money to help the local economy.

Thanks for being you.

In The Villages, would you rather see an ethnic and religious mix of residents equal to the percentile makeup of the entire state of Florida or a homogeneous mixture that has the same uniform appearance and composition throughout. Naturally, I am talking all in the same 55+ age group.

Oh. Please.

What are ya gonna do to get that utopian "ethnic and religious mix"? Handcuff, shackle, and put a bag over their head and drag them in and put them in a house somebody else pays for???

The best "mix", I think, is a mix that occurred when people freely chose where to live and work, where they have the personal freedom to make that choice.....legally.

How about to target advertise in their communities around Florida and around the USA? There are plenty of people of various ethnic and religious backgrounds that are not fully represented in The Villages who are the middle-class and upper middle-class couples like the rest of us are who would fit in perfectly.

Some of the hardest working people I have ever met were from the "south" as you put it. You wouldn't have been able to keep up with them.

Social engineering is misguided.

Coming from the largest city in Canada we certainly understand what multiculturalism has brought both good and bad. Great people come in all colors as do bad people. The Villages is home to life long hard working people that want to enjoy their last 20 or 30 years on this earth. Where they come from, what they did for a living, or their ethnicity was of little concern when we purchased our lovely home. If the ethnic and religious makeup was representative of the entire state of Florida, so be it. Again, it would be full of life long, hard working people that want to enjoy their remaining years.

I would prefer to see a mix of people who freely choose to be here, no matter anything else.

Now, we are talking about not only equal distribution of wealth, but also living areas !

Well, I do not see how you say I am talking about equal distribution of living areas but only of making it known to all and making them welcome.

Let's carry it on one more step. How about if a large Muslim mosque were built right in Wildwood and Paddock Square became their favorite entertainment spot for music and dining each night. Would you (a collective "you") still attend? After all, all of our restaurants and entertainment are open to all.

Not sure what your point is. Of course I would attend.

Why someone would broach such a thing is troubling to me. Why do you find the need to "carry it one more step" ? What exactly is your motivation here ?

There is a quota assigned for each country, and there is a lottery system for each applicant to enter the US.

They either had worked 10 years (40 quarters)as permanent residents or are claiming disability when anything goes & no work or payments are required. Half of our citizens & non-citizens are on this now. Also, with SS1 come 100% free health benefits, free food, phones, & housing in many cases. The list goes on & is growing every day. Look around you to notice the DECLINE of America. We may win the World Cup but are loosing EVERYTHING else.

The vast majority of Canadians come here for six months of sunshine period. Canada has more social programs by far than the US, so they are not coming for 'handouts'. They bring the money they earned in Canada and put it in our pockets when they visit. Many have relatives on this side of the border as at one time the border was more open, some moved north some south. In short, many on both sides are the same generic people. If they did invest or work here for a Canadian or US company, they pay taxes and file on Global income often in both countries. Social security payments from both countries is tallied and there is a intercountry arrangement. There is no free lunch available for Canadians, our most loyal neighbor.

Some posts deserve a peaceful death.
 

All too many posters have taken up Contrarianism as a hobby. You know who you are. Stop stirring the pot.

I agree with you. However, my perspective of contraiarism is not the same as yours. Hopefully we will all continue to provide those different perspectives.

.....

What this article exposes without spelling it out (which would be politically incorrect) is that illegals that are paying into SS do not deserve to reap any benefits. They have committed fraud to be able to pay that tax. That is just their cost of doing business.

The company that withheld those taxes also broke the law by not doing their due diligence.

Thank an Illegal!
 

What this article exposes is that the mistaken notion that illegals are receiving social security is incorrect. They do not. Actually, illegals are paying into SS and subsidizing you and I. Since they do not qualify for those benefits, they should not have to pay for them. They are taxing individuals who are already being grossly underpaid. We are fortunate as nation that they are willing to do this very difficult work for such low wages.

It appears that you prejudged this couple based upon you first impression without doing any background knowledge of their circumstances.

I am also had grandparents who were immigrants. However, at the age of 3 my mother contracted MS and was bedridden for rest of her life. My mother, my younger brother and I received welfare payments of $135 a month, our only income. $1600 a year was not a lot of money. At the age of nine, I delivered papers for $5 a week, however, the social worker threatened to cut those welfare payments by $20 a month. Our only other source of subsistence was the help of friend and bags groceries from the Sister of the Poor. My wife and I were able to go on to college without any help from anyone and had a career in Nuclear Engineering and Health Physics. By the way, I am not Hispanic but Italian.

Although we were able to make a very good life for ourselves, I would not go back to the era of my childhood for the support for the disadvantaged. Thank God we are much more humane.

I don't believe the implications in the article for a minute. For every 1 of people like the man the article was written about, there are many more that are just "takers". I was a nurse in a hospital no where near any border, but we were over run by people from the south who would flat out tell you-even brag if you will about plans of many to come to this country, and give birth, so that they and their families could come to this country to live. Apparently there were organizations who "schooled" people where to go and what to do when they got there. The people told them exactly where and how to apply for every public service/ social program they could, promising them a wonderful new life. I can't totally blame them for wanting a better life, but this is not the way to do it. I didn't ask about any of this, could have cost me my job, but they would freely talk--like I said they were very excited about all the things they were going to get. But their advisors (no idea who they were) were very well informed and had step by step instructions for them. Any of course there are planned "birth vacations" (very common) that are actually arranged so that the women either were pregnant, or delibertly became pregnant and would make sure to deliver in the US. And this is just an example of many, many, many people. I could go on and on. You can believe this or not, but it is the truth. So, many of the immigrants no matter where they come from , are not here to be a hard worker, but rather to live off the American public.