Social Security Taxes example essay topic

Who Should Receive Entitlements? As part of American ideals, the government has a responsibility to take a role in maintaining the financial security of it's citizens who are in need. Benefits are given to help those who are unable to provide for themselves, and those who they are responsible for others who need help. Although some people become dependent on these grants, the majority of those who receive them truly need them. Support offered by the government needs to be strictly supervised to help provide that these public help program " same not being taken advantage of.

Medicare, which came into effect in 1966, is the popular name for the Federal Health Insurance Program. It helps people 65 years of age and over. This programs goal is to ensure the medical care of the aging citizens. Medicare is designed to help out with the payment of medical bills. There are two aspects of this program, Part A, which covers doctor's visits and Part B which covers hospital charges. The bills for Part A are paid for by taxes collected from both workers and employers.

Part B's bills are payed differently than Part A. One fourth of the bill is paid by the patient, and the other three fourths come from a Congressional layout. (Cayton, 873) One problem with Medicare, is that the fastest of the population is those over 65 years of age. This is the group needs the most medical care. As this generation ages, more and more money will need to be spent on their health care. As a result, the money avail be to pay for these claims may run out. Another entitlement given to the citizens of the United States comes in the form of Social Security.

Social Security was formed in 1936 to help the generation of the Great Depression pay for living expenses as they aged and stopped working. As a citizen works throughout his or her life, deductions are made from pay checks to pay Social Security taxes. Which in theory these taxes will be returned to them when they retire. The cost of benefits given to retired citizens have increased over the life of this program. In the 1930's the maximum amount that a worker would have to pay for Social Security taxes was $3,000. In 1966, the amount had grown to$6,600 per year.

Since 1966 the maximum yearly tax bill per tax payer has steadily grown along with the cost of living for retirees. (Shlaes, 3) Social Security faces some of the same problems as Medicare. The age group that Social Security was intended for is becoming very large. The increase in the cost of living and the large groups of eligible recipients has caused doubt with many of the younger citizens. A study conducted in 1994 showed that Americans born after 1964 are more likely to believe in the existent's of UFO's than believe that Social Security will be available when they are eligible for it. (Shlaes 1) Welfare is a common name for programs that helps pay for living cost of citizens that cannot support themselves.

Many people feel that welfare is only free money for those who are to lazy to work for themselves. Welfare benefits are for those who are in need, but some tax payers do not think it is their responsibility to help fund it. Misuse of welfare is common under programs now in affect. The money given to these needy people can cause them to become dependent and not have the ability to support themselves. Recipients find it hard to get off welfare.

63%of welfare receivers will receive assistance for 9 years. (Cayton 873) Many enticements are now available for individuals who are on welfare to make it easier for these people to support themselves. In 1996, money was given to children on welfare for schooling, hoping that schooling would help these children off welfare when they became older. To discourage teen pregnancy and young mothers with families on welfare, women with children were forced to live at home or in supervised housing in order to receive assistants.

Housing and transportation are made accessible for those who could maintain a job. (Zuckerman 2) A huge indication that welfare does not work is that some citizens after getting off welfare still face difficulties paying for t hier bills. One third of the women who get off welfare are forced to cut meal sizes, or even skip meals entirely to make ends meet. Also 38% of women recently off welfare say that they have, at least once, not been able to pay rent, mortgage or utility bills. (Zuckerman 7) The entitlements that the United State Government gives to its citizens are meant to help the lives of those who receive them. Although the Government has a responsibility to it needy citizens, it also has a responsibility to spend tax money in a way that will benefit all people.

These entitlements cannot continue to benefit those who need them unless the money to fund them can be found in the budget. Since most Americans can support themselves, the majority of the country's budget should be used to benefit the majority of the tax payers. There must be a balance between spending money on the majority and spending money on the those that need help.