gamb00ler

I agree that Congress needs to change the SS funding laws... but lately bipartisan agreement rarely happens. I think the most reasonable solutions that have been offered only attempt to increase the SS revenue without cutting benefits.

There aren't a lot of AN users that have shipped goods internationally. Additionally some of their experiences will be very dated. Your best path forward is to do an online search using a phrase like "international mover" or several keywords like international+container+shipping+household. Send several of them an exploratory email and go from there.

Canada does pay regular OAS benefits to non-residents. It will be prorated based on how long they lived in Canada. Your statement only applies to the Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) and to the rare extra benefits such as the one issued during COVID. Technically, the Canadian GIS is a separate benefit from the Old Age Supplement. Unlike the OAS, the GIS is not taxable.

No... that cannot be said. Simple facts show that your notion is incorrect. Only the empoyer's and employee's FICA taxes are supporting SS benefits. It's been that way by law since the inception of SS. By current law, the revenue from federal income taxes cannot now or in the future be used to prop up the SS trust fund. That's why the current projections warn that SS benefits will need to be reduced when the SS trust fund is exhausted. At that point SSA will only be able to pay out as much as it takes in.

I'm only familiar with the use of ITINs in the gambling world. Foreigners having gambling income in the US may have some percentage of their win withheld. They can file US taxes (using an ITIN) as a non-resident alien and may end up paying less tax than was withheld. Usually they do end up giving Uncle Sam a cut.

The government gets NONE of the social security taxes paid by illegal aliens. All money collected by employment taxes goes into the SS trust fund. It is the people receiving SS benefits that are being rewarded in that the SS trust fund will last somewhat longer than it would without illegal aliens contributions. Illegal aliens pay into the SS trust fund but will not be able to collect unless they become permanent residents or citizens.

Currently no income taxes(except the tax on SS benefits) go towards social security benefits. I am not positive about the benefits in the early years of SS but for decades already the benefits are funded completely by those who contributed. There is no "topping up" by taxpayers and there is no "excess" that SS recipients are spending. There is no transfer of income tax dollars to SS and also no transfer of SS funds to general federal government revenue streams. Before the boomers started retiring, the SS trust fund grew every year. It was earning interest at the same rate as the Treasury bills that are sold to investors.

It's good low brow entertainment.

Hopefully his attempts will wake up the MAGA minions to the threats posed by Trump/Musk.

Poor Joe R. He's oblivious the fact that his popularity/influence is regressing to its true value.

Lots of socialistic practices/policies exist in the USA. In fact some of them are so popular that any political party that attempts to restrict them would go down in flames. Do your homework and report back.

My experience diverges from your description. I use only WiFi calling and texting on my UM sim and get 100 minutes and 100 SMS free every month. I am not charged .10 for the first 100 SMSs. Perhaps I would be charged for any SMS after the free ones. I have disabled UM autopay for my monthly fee. UM still attempts to collect by autopay but that fails and then UM withdraws the $3 fee from my UM wallet every month. Periodically, I add a lump sum to my UM wallet from my US credit card. I pay only the $3 monthly which actually cost me about $3.18 due to taxes added during topping up of my UM wallet. I moved my local Thai mobile service to an e-sim on my phone. I don't know if UM could be set up as an e-sim. I have never used UM in the US except when my US based friend did the UM initial setup for me.

I'm just down the street from you... LOL.... I'm not in USA either but my UltaMobile PayGo sim gives me a legitimate US mobile number with plenty of free minutes/sms every month for my needs. It costs $3.18/month. I have an e-sim for local service from True.

The Canadian consulate in CM lists the "letter of income" as a separate category from statutory declarations which do have the caveat that they're for use in Canada.

In my case they would not provide the letter unless I showed them letters from Service Canada showing my Canada Pension Plan benefit and my Old Age Supplement benefits. The letter to Thai Immigration simply showed those same numbers and asked that Immigration consider me for my annual extension. Of course, the Consulate took those letters at face value. AFAIK they don't have any way to check if the letters were 100% legitimate.