Social Security

describe the social and economic benefits of the construction industry in both mational and local terms

National economic benefits

The construction industry is vital to the UK economy which makes up about 10% of the county's GDP and has been a driver of GDP growth in this country.

There are about 3million jobs in the construction industry in the UK making up about 8% of the national workforce. Over 60% of these are lower skilled labourers with relatively limited alternative employment opportunities.

Nationally, the construction industry undertakes work on infrastructure projects such as motorways and railway upgrades, sports stadia (such as the Olympic stadium for 2012), and contributes through the tax system to the wealth of the UK economy.

Local economic benefits

Locally the construction Industry provides employment through projects, and creates a market for local plant and material suppliers and all of the ancillary service areas that are required such as waste skips. Local firms also employ apprentices in all trades many of who may go on to start their own companies, perpetuating the local skill market.

Social benefits (National)

By investing in construction you can help to reduce crime. For example by considering urban regeneration and constructing affordable housing with community centres you can breath life into a once run down area giving the people a sense of worth. European grant money is often available for this also. If you design and build an environment that is an attractive place to live then it will socially benefit that area as people then have a sense of belonging.

Social benefits (Local )

The success of a project can be greatly enhanced by getting the local community actively involved in the project. This alone could give a project a sustainability factor. A good example of this would be where a housing development was designed where cars are not allowed. Added value to a project could be done for example by providing ample car parking spaces when offices are closed on a Saturday to support the local retail market. Crime can also be reduced by installing CCTV and by also designing out black spots in regenerated areas. Security lighting and gated communities help to reduce crime also.

Your year of birth will determine the year when you will reach your Normal Retirement Age or Full Retirement Age. After reaching that point your earnings will no longer be subject to the earning test.

Normal retirement age. At this age, the benefit is neither reduced for early retirement nor increased for delayed retirement.

The normal retirement age (NRA) is the age at which retirement benefits (before rounding) are equal to the "primary insurance amount." The table below shows how NRA varies by year of birth for retirees.Normal Retirement AgeYear of birthAge1937 and prior65193865 and 2 months193965 and 4 months194065 and 6 months194165 and 8 months194265 and 10 months1943-5466195566 and 2 months195666 and 4 months195766 and 6 months195866 and 8 months195966 and 10 months1960 and later67Notes:

1. Persons born on January 1 of any year should refer to the normal retirement age for the previous year.

Go to SSA.gov web site and use the search box

Social Security can only be garnished:

- for child support or alimony.

- for court-ordered victim restitution.

- to collect unpaid federal taxes or other debts to the government.

Medicare is a separate program from Social Security, and yes, you should enroll at age 65 even if you are still working and not yet drawing retirement benefits.

Please note that enrollment is not automatic; you have to sign up for Medicare either online, by mail or at your local Social Security field office.

You are strongly encouraged to apply as soon as you become eligible because you may have to pay a higher monthly premium if you wait too long.

Additional Information Per Discussion

If a person is already receiving Social Security benefits (which the question clearly states is not the case), enrollment in Medicare Part A (hospitalization insurance) typically would be automatic.

When a person becomes eligible for Medicare at age 65, but is not yet retired, he or she has to make an active choice to enroll in Medicare. The enrollment period begins three months before the month of the person's 65th birthday and continues for 3 months afterward. If the person neglects to enroll during the seven-month window, he or she has to wait for a future general enrollment period (January-March) to join.

All Medicare Part A recipients have a choice whether to enroll in Medicare Part B (doctors' visits and outpatient) or C (Advantage comprehensive plans), or opt out due to alternate coverage (or for whatever reason). If the person doesn't intentionally sign up, the default would be to opt out.

People who sign up for Part B prior to retirement receive a bill for premiums.

Medicare Part D (prescription drug) coverage is available after retirement. If you are on Medicare Part A or Part B, you can buy a Part D policy at retirement or later, during an open-enrollment period (November-December). Delayed enrollment may result in higher premiums.

People with Medicare Part C (Medicare Advantage) often receive drug coverage through their Advantage plans.

Medicare Part A (hospital coverage) is available "free" because we pay for it in advance through FICA contributions during our working years. Nevertheless, a person who is not receiving Social Security retirement benefits must still enroll in Part A, even though there is no cost of enrollment.

As stated above, Medicare Part B or C, if elected, is billed to the recipient. The premiums can be deducted automatically from cash retirement benefits only after the person retires.

For more information, see Sources and Related Links, below.

Hi, Just wanted to drop you a line to let you know about a recent small victory in the no-SSN corner.

I recently tried to open a bank account with my local bank , and when they asked for a SSN, I informed them that I didn't have one. They flatly refused and said that without a SSN that they absolutely could NOT open an account of any kind. I then proceeded thus to convince them that they were in the wrong: 1) I informed them that I had terminated my SSN legally in accordance with 20 CFR 3 A7 404.1905 and 2) I informed them that the bank could not be held legally responsible by anyone for failing to obtain a SSN from me pursuant to 31 CFR 103.34(a)(1) and 3) I informed them that under the Internal Revenue Code Section 6041, that they were not even required to provide any taxpayer identification numbers on the Form 1099 that they file with the IRS at the end of the year, and 4) I informed them that pursuant to 26 CFR 301.6109-1(c) that they were under no legal obligation to obtain a SSN from me, and 5) I informed them that 42 USC 408 makes it a FELONY to use threat, duress, or coercion to try to force a person by fear or deceit to provide his SSN in an unlawful manner. After a brief meeting with the banks controller and legal counsel, I received a phone call stating that I would be allowed to open a checking account. Please pass this information along to your readers, in hopes that it may help someone else who may find themselves in this situation.

Craig Burkholder

Harrisonburg, VA

I'm sorry Craig I just can't agree with you. I already tried that. Seems like the known "Patriot Act", is a statute enacted by the United States Government that President George W. Bush signed into law on October 26, 2001. Any U.S. institution to such banks will make sure they are not engaging in money laundering. Banks must identify all the nominal and beneficial owners of any private bank account opened and maintained in the U.S. by non-U.S. citizens. You have no rights to private banking anymore. In thirty days if a social security number is not associated with the account the checks and balances within the banks will return the account to the account holder and ask ththe acount holder to fill in the ss number of remove the account from the bank.

Sorry Guy, Graig is right and you are wrong the Patriot Act is not applicable in this matter because there is no mandatory requirement to present a Social Security number when opening up a bank account in Section 326 and even if Section 326 had a mandatory requirement it wouldn't be in effect due to only three provisions of the Act have been renewed and those three provisions are the "court-approved roving wiretaps", "court-approved seizure of records and property" and "lone wolf surveillance". These are the only parts of the USA PATRIOT that are still law the rest of the Act is dead and to make sure I was correct, 4 weeks ago I called Senator Chuck Schumer's office in Washington D.C. to confirm it and one of his aids confirmed it for me. As for the other three provisions I just mentioned, they have nothing to do with a person being force to present a Social Security number to the bank. Next time read the Act first before you go posting things on the website

George,

NYC

All SS benefits are exempt from private creditor action (benefits may be garnished for back alimony, child support, unpaid federal taxes and amounts due other federal agencies), most pension/retirement plans are also protected, although it is possible to garnish a portion of certain types. In regards to a bank account, if the account(s) are within the U.S. and are not held by a married couple in a state that recognizes TBE protection; the accounts could be subject to creditor levy if said creditor was awarded a lawsuit judgment. As an aside, any non-exempt property belonging to the debtor could be seized and liquidated or if real property be subjected to a lien(s)and possibly a forced sale. The debtor/defendant does not have to present in the U.S. to have a creditor lawsuit initiated and ruled upon, the defendant can have a default judgment entered against him if the plaintiff prevails.

It is important to note that once a Social Security payment has been deposited into a bank account (either by check or direct deposit) it is no longer protected.