Is social security really guilt money? Although we seniors will receive a 5.8% cola increase in 2009 (which will partially compensate for the shortfall this year.), are these funds intended to be a retirement benefit or to compensate for the age discrimination that we face everyday?
During this holiday season, it is nice to notice the many senior citizens working at the various stores. They are invariably courteous, friendly, and helpful. They act as if they actually care. Take a good look at them. They will be gone in January.
Any employee in the US knows that finding a job becomes more difficult as you get older. Once you reach out beyond your personal network, and become just another resume in the Inbox, your odds of succeeding become considerably more difficult. There are some organizations that recognize the problem and offer help. 40Plus has been around for years, and its local chapters are dedicated to helping workers over age forty find employment.
Imagine what it is like after age sixty-five!
A personal friend of mine is an employment specialist who works specifically in the sector of senior citizens. As he reports, he can find jobs for people, but the pay scale is typically limited to $10 or $12/hour. Although some of his clients may have operated as top executives or academics and have advanced degrees and credentials, the best he can find for them is $10 to $12/hour.
Senior citizens don’t want a handout. Like any person, they simply want an opportunity and a chance to demonstrate their value. In the current economic climate, where portfolios have been reduced by forty percent or more, they also want to survive. It is a tragedy that age prejudice in our current society severely limits their ability to do that.
So it would appear we are back to our original question.
Is social security really guilt money?
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