Heartbreak:The Poor Fragile Old Woman Working At Walmart Not As Well Off As Illegal Alein
Posted: Saturday, March 12, 2011
by Fran Larson
http://www.franniesquotes.com/
She looked the best she could under the circumstances. She had small dangling earrings that presented as a “cheery” message of “I’m here to cheer you.” She was stooped over, wearing a black back brace and when she smiled, I noted she did not have any teeth. As I continued to grab glimpses, I noted she grabbed a huge rolling wagon-like cart that held all kinds of cleaning supplies. I was at Wal-Mart.
I used to judge people who hadn’t saved enough for retirement and would say,” anyone knows you cannot live off social security alone. You have to plan and save for retirement.” Now, I have mellowed. Who knows what may have happened? Maybe she had bad breaks or made bad choices and has children who don’t care about her. Maybe she lost a lot of money or her home. It doesn’t matter what the reason is. All I know is, it is just wrong for someone living in this country who has probably worked all of her life, finding herself in this situation.
We live in a country of riches and plenty. We help other countries and go fight for them. We end up giving health benefits to immigrants who are here illegally. Even if she had been in one of our prisons, they probably would have fixed her teeth.
In 2009, it was reported that California spent $640 million a year on illegal immigrants.
An example of who the state cuts the monthly checks to is an unemployed 43-year-old illegal immigrant from Mexico who gets $650 a month for each of her four children and about $500 in federal food stamps and other vouchers. That adds up to $2600 monthly plus the $500 for food stamps/vouchers.
Compare this $3100 monthly that an illegal immigrant would get to the little old lady receiving Social Security benefits (At the most, $1,171, see chart below).
The biggest chunk—$2.3 billion—goes to educating about 300,000 illegal immigrant children at public schools throughout the state. California expects to spend around $834 million to incarcerate nearly 20,000 illegal aliens in fiscal year 2009-2010 and well over $700 million to medically treat close to 800,000 illegal immigrants. http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog/2009/jul/illegal-aliens-get-monthly-welfare-checks-0nalliberty.com.
Compare this $3100 that an illegal immigrant would get to the little old lady receiving Social Security benefits.
According to statistics the Social Security Administration published in August 2010, the average monthly benefits break down as follows:
Retired Worker..........................$1,171.60
Retired (non-working) spouse..........577.80
Children (under 18)........................573.60 (each)
Survivors' Insurance (widow(er).$1,105.00
Disability Benefits......................$1,065.90
Spouse (low or no income)..............286.70
Read more: http://wiki.answers.com/Q/What_is_the_average_monthly_Social_Security_benefit_check#ixzz1GLgK0Hii
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Top-level comments on this article: (8 total)You'll never get any argument from me that the U.S. treats it's senior citizens, not to mention the millions of uninsured or under insured citizens like dogs. But spreading false rumors and innuendos about illegal immigrants receiving social security benefits, and accusing it of being the problem is just part of the reason it will never change. I didn't see a source for the report that this is so, but I can only imagine it came from the corporate propaganda, fear mongering machine at FOX. Congress hasn’t voted on any measure to pay benefits to illegal immigrants, and has no plans for any such vote. http://www.factcheck.org/2009/03/social-security-for-illegal-immigrants/ This from Tom Margenau, an ex Social Security Administration employee. http://www.creators.com/lifestylefeatures/business-and-finance/your-social-security/illegal-immigrants-seldom-receive-social-security.html There are no undocumented workers in this country collecting U.S. Social Security benefits and ripping off the taxpayers. In fact, Social Security Administration actuaries point out that undocumented workers have just the opposite impact on the programs finances. They pump millions of dollars annually into Social Security trust funds without ever collecting a nickel in Social Security benefits. (Please bear in mind that the actuaries are not saying illegal immigration is a good thing for the country. But they are saying it has a positive impact on the financial status of Social Security.)
Hi Fran.It is backward isn't it? Thank you for sharing this information. Something needs to change, may God give our leadership wisdom and may our leadership take the time to seek that wisdom. Blessings to you! T
Hi Fran,
Excelent article. I feel for this little lady. As far as our budget spending to me it is way out of line. I recieve SSDI and no food stamps. I bring home 759. a month. Both Mark and I work at the church so we have a house over our head. PTL for this. The reason I quit my great job was my doctor begged me to for a year. My BP was getting way out of control. Finally after going into insulin shock and a few other things I gave notice. Now when I get through all this next array of testing (after almost dying at the hospital last month), I am going to see if I can at least find a part time job. I used to do full charge bookkeeping and auditing plus some human services, and I loved it. For now I have to accept what God has in front of me. Like helping my son and grandson by them living with me. My grandson is two and in my own prejudice opinion, the cutest, smartness and most loving.
Love, hugs and blessings,
Michelle
I almost forgot, Mark and I work at the church first for the Lord who has called us there but also for a roof over our heads. There is no monetary payment and he works so hard.
Yes, definitely something wrong with this picture - thanks for the thought provoking article.
Here's a couple of things you might help me with Fran. (1) That old lady apparently has chosen to work, since she's obviously eligible for social security and other benefits. (2) Only illegal immigrants with children get those extra benefits, and their parents usually have to work for them one way or another. (3) I'm not sure if this is the case, and so, I'm asking you this question, how can we continue to support illegal immigrants through social services if it is illegal for them to be here? I mean really, if they can't work here legally, then how can we give them services legally. If this is the case, there is something rotten in Denmark, isn't there? I suppose there are those who would say take the kids of illegals who are citizens and place them in foster homes. The problem is this society doesn't want to have to pay for that either. This just goes to show the absurdity of the entire immigration debate. We will pay for them to be here, but won't allow them to earn their way. What this country gets, it surely deserves. Rick M.
Interesting article, Fran. Like you, I wonder what her story is. I wonder is there no family to help her? Something needs to be done with immigration, but I don't know where to start. Obviously, neither do lawmakers. Thanks for writing this.
I don't know what to say here, Fran, or how I could compare one group with the other. They're both living in a kind of hell, and behind what's legal and what isn't there are human beings struggling to survive. Legality doesn't bother me nearly as much as humanity, but I do get what you're saying about the system being flawed and the person on Social Security Benefits getting the raw end of the deal. It is heartbreaking. The whole situation is heartbreaking.
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