How is Social Security an entitlement program?

[Hereese]

Everyone who works (excluding the black market) pays into SS.
I should clarify that many people have been acting as if people aren't entitled to such programs despite the fact that people have paid into it.

[Lib Smasher]

Its not. Its only an entitlement to those who havent paid into it but get money out of it. Libs do not udnerstand this

[Richard Stevenson]

Because people are "entitled" to receive SS checks.
hello?

[Chupate esa!]

That's probably why you are entitle to it...

[quietdust641]

It's a separate program that was supposed to be administered through a separate fund until LBJ changed it, and now it's the Republicans fault that it's running short.

[Emperor Augustus]

If the private industry was running a program like this, the chairman and the CEO would be arrested.

[Hip to be square]

>>I should clarify that many people have been acting as if people aren't entitled to such programs despite the fact that people have paid into it.<<

You mean people like the Supreme Court?

"In this 1960 Supreme Court decision Nestor's denial of benefits was upheld even though he had contributed to the program for 19 years and was already receiving benefits. Under a 1954 law, Social Security benefits were denied to persons deported for, among other things, having been a member of the Communist party. Accordingly, Mr. Nestor's benefits were terminated. He appealed the termination arguing, among other claims, that promised Social Security benefits were a contract and that Congress could not renege on that contract. In its ruling, the Court rejected this argument and established the principle that entitlement to Social Security benefits is not contractual right."
http://www.ssa.gov/history/nestor.html

[Amazingclass249]

It doesn't work like this in reality. Those paying into the system are actually paying the benefits of those receiving them. The government doesn't save your payments in a large bank account. They were used up on previous retirees.

When you retire, it will be the obligation of the people paying into the system to provide you with benefits. This is FICA and it is non-negotiable.

It kinda sucks though that there is so much unemployment...