Social Security for illegal aliens

[Marnie]

From the Washington Times. Unbelievable is the only comment I can say. In here, anyway.

An agreement the Bush administration reached with Mexico on Social Security benefits would allow illegal aliens granted amnesty in the future to claim credit for the time they worked illegally.

The deal was reached in 2004 but never released publicly because it hasn't been submitted to Congress. The TREA Senior Citizens League, a Social Security advocacy group, recently obtained the document through a Freedom of Information Act, and said it confirms the group's worst fears.

The document is a jumble of definitions and legal language, but a spokesman for the group said what's important is what's not in the text: It does nothing to prevent undocumented aliens who later get legal status from receiving benefits for the time they worked illegally. And that comes as the Social Security system's finances are about to be put under greater strain by the retirement of baby boomers.

"If you open up the trust fund to people who have been working in the country illegally for many years, that bankruptcy date can only come sooner," spokesman Brad Phillips said. "People on the other side of this, people who have been arguing that of course illegal aliens can't get their hands on Social Security benefits, now can't make that argument easily anymore."

But Mark Lassiter, a spokesman for the Social Security Administration, said the agreement doesn't change U.S. law. The law states that those who do not have authorization to work will not get benefits under a totalization agreement.

"To get Social Security benefits, you do have to be legally in the United States. This agreement does not address in any way immigration, immigration laws or override current law," he said, adding that a 2004 law, the Social Security Protection Act, prevents illegal aliens from getting benefits.

But the seniors group said the 2004 law also states that if those aliens later get legal status -- through an amnesty or some sort of legalization plan such as the one President Bush and the Senate tried to enact last year -- they would be able to collect the benefits based on their time as illegal workers.

The deal has not taken effect because Mr. Bush has not signed it or submitted it to Congress. Once he does, Congress would have 60 days to vote against it or it automatically would become law.

Congress has never defeated any of the 21 other totalization agreements the United States has reached. Most of those have been with European nations, with the financial effects known to be smaller.

Some lawmakers say Mr. Bush has not submitted the agreement because it would get caught up in the debate over Social Security's poor fiscal health, which could doom the measure.

Totalization agreements end double taxation, so workers have to pay only into one country's system, and allow a worker who didn't have enough credits in any one country to qualify for benefits to pool his or her credits. In the United States, it takes 10 years, or 40 quarters, to qualify.

Mr. Lassiter said that's not to say Mexican workers who spent less time, such as the six quarters minimum needed to pool credits, would get benefits equal to someone who had worked his or her full life here.

[JustinM]

How can they get something they didn't contribute to? Most illegals get paid under the table and aren't taxed at all.

[kat8585]

This is absolutely the most insane thing I've ever heard of, moreso even than supporting illegals with free medical care, schooling, etc., then granting amnesty. Typical liberal mindset, tho, Democrat or Republican. Yes, there are Republicans who actually are this insane, too. When a program is in trouble and in danger of collapsing, burden it all the more. Ensure that it collapses. Oh, no, wait. They can always steal more of our money.

Arnold Schwartzenegger wants to insure all children, illegals included. Unbelievable.

Yes, Justin, and a lot of them make more than I do, and I don't do too shabby. I make more than average.

Edited January 6, 2007 by kat8585

[refugepsa91]

How can they get something they didn't contribute to? Most illegals get paid under the table and aren't taxed at all.

exactely what I was thinking...how is the social security agency supposed to calculate an amount without income tax forms? Wait don't tell me......are we just supposed to take their word for it?

Love and Blessings,

Angel