Mix Max Nutty Bag: February 2011

Sunday, February 27, 2011

The US Constitution First Five Amendments

First Amendment – Establishment Clause, Free Exercise Clause; freedom of speech, of the press, and of assembly; right to petition
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Second Amendment – Militia (United States), Sovereign state, Right to keep and bear arms.
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed. [5]
Third Amendment – Protection from quartering of troops.
No Soldier shall, in time of peace be quartered in any house, without the consent of the Owner, nor in time of war, but in a manner to be prescribed by law.
Fourth Amendment – Protection from unreasonable search and seizure.
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.
Fifth Amendment – due process, double jeopardy, self-incrimination, eminent domain.
No person shall be held to answer for a capital, or otherwise infamous crime, unless on a presentment or indictment of a Grand Jury, except in cases arising in the land or naval forces, or in the Militia, when in actual service in time of War or public danger; nor shall any person be subject for the same offence to be twice put in jeopardy of life or limb; nor shall be compelled in any criminal case to be a witness against himself, nor be deprived of life, liberty, or property, without due process of law; nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.

Saturday, February 26, 2011

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) Social Security

SSI (Supplemental Security Income) IS welfare. It's just that it's paid by a federal agency (the Social Security Administration). Just like a welfare check from the state, recipients of SSI must report changes in their living arrangements, income and resources. And once a year (if there isn't too big of a backlog) a redetermination is done by a claims rep to determine if someone is still eligible. SSI is paid to the blind, disabled and aged (age 65+) who have never worked OR their earnings were so low or sparse that they receive no Social Security or have a very low Social Security benefit. PS: When I worked for Social Security we were told not to refer to SSI as welfare benefits so that we wouldn't discourage people from filing for it. Benefits for the blind, aged and disabled were handled by the states until the programs were federalized in Jan, 1974; it was given to the Social Security Administration to administer because Social Security was already set up to process such things.

Social Security benefits are different. Resources and living arrangements are immaterial in determining benefit amounts and eligibility. The only income Social Security cares about if someone is getting Social Security disability (as opposed to SSI disability) is worker's comp and earnings from work. As far as retirement and survivor benefits the only earned income which must be reported is by people under the full retirement age and then only if it's way more than $10,000 a year (the yearly allowable amount changes yearly). Once they hit full retirement age they can earn whatever they want without reporting it.

Some people can receive BOTH SSI and Social Security. That would be people whose Social Security benefits are low enough so that they would not be ineligible. However, the Social Security benefit reduces the amount of SSI which can be paid as does any income.