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TSCL Position on the Proposed Social Security Totalization Agreement with Mexico
TSCL works to protect the earned benefits of our seniors, including retired military, veterans’ and Social Security benefits. But TSCL is not only about seniors. We want to ensure that Social Security is around for not only our seniors, but also for our children, grandchildren and future generations to come. Currently, there are several issues and conditions that threaten the promise that Social Security holds. One is the economic health of both our federal and state governments. The deficit that we find our federal government carrying threatens the Social Security Trust Fund, as well as the resources that will be able to be devoted to Medicaid and Medicare, including a prescription drug program. A second plan now being discussed is what is called a totalization treaty with Mexico, which would mean that workers in the United States and Mexico would be able to “total” up the quarters earned toward the number needed to qualify for U.S. Social Security benefits. Such a plan could also mean that those workers here in the United States illegally from Mexico would be able to count those periods of work done in this country--while the worker was working here illegally--toward the time necessary to have worked to qualify for U.S. Social Security. If this totalization agreement is enacted, this could be very costly and threaten the U.S. Social Security program. Totalization agreements may go into effect by executive order. This means that Congress does not need to discuss, nor approve, of the policies. Right now the plan is only being discussed, and we do not know the specific details of how such a program would be put into place. We are concerned about the possibly detrimental effect such an agreement could mean to Social Security. TSCL supports a GAO study that several Members of Congress have called for, seeking to come up with a solid dollar figure of what the totalization agreement with Mexico would mean to the United States--and to our Social Security system. Furthermore, we believe that such an agreement should not be rushed into without a full, open debate--and with the public having access to the information about such a policy. We encourage TSCL members to write and call their Members of Congress in support of a GAO study and a full debate of the issue before a totalization agreement goes into effect. To view our Frequently Asked Questions on this subject, click here: http://www.tscl.org/NewContent/101801.asp. March 2003 | ||||||||
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