| Author |
Message |
    
mfpark
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 176
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 9:55 pm: |     |
I just received an email that says that members of Congress do not pay into Social Security, and they also do not draw from it. Rather, years ago they voted themselves permanent retirement pay annually at their last salary, increased by cost of living factors. And at no cost to themselves.
Can the policy wonks out there confirm if this is true? If so, no wonder that politicians can't figure out how to fix Social Security--what do they care? |
Nohero
Citizen
Username: Nohero
Post Number: 2740
Registered: 10-1999
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 10:05 pm: | |
Did your email sound something like this?
quote:Our Senators and Congresswomen do not pay into Social Security and, of course, they do not collect from it.
You see, Social Security benefits were not suitable for persons of their rare elevation in society. They felt they should have a special plan for themselves. So, many years ago they voted in their own benefit plan.
In more recent years, no congressperson has felt the need to change it. After all, it is a great plan. For all practical purposes their plan works like this:
When they retire, they continue to draw the same pay until they die. Except it may increase from time to time for cost of living adjustments.
This is, apparently, a hoax. According to the debunkers at Snopes.com:
quote:This piece has been circulating on the Internet since April 2000. So much of it is outdated, inaccurate, or misleading, it's difficult to know where to begin.
It is not true that Congressmen do not pay into the Social Security fund. They pay into the fund just as most everyone else does. (A few odd exceptions to the Social Security program still exist, both inside and outside of government.)
It was true prior to 1984 that Congressmen did not pay into the Social Security fund because they participated in a separate program for civil servants (the Civil Service Retirement System, or CSRS), but that program was closed to government employees hired after 1983.
There's more of the same at this link: http://www.snopes.com/politics/taxes/pensions.asp
See also: http://urbanlegends.about.com/library/blcongress.htm
|
mfpark
Citizen
Username: Mfpark
Post Number: 178
Registered: 9-2001
| | Posted on Sunday, January 18, 2004 - 10:13 pm: | |
Thanks, you're my hero. I usually do check on these on the hoax sites, but this one slipped my radar screen. |
|
Closed: New threads not accepted on this page