Pete Stark defends Social Security payments to his kids.

[RandySF]

The campaign of Rep. Pete Stark, the East Bay Democrat in a contested re-election race against fellow Democrat Eric Swalwell of Dublin, confirmed to the Chronicle that Stark’s children do receive Social Security benefits as allowed under the law, and that he has stopped paying his dues to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee.

Stark campaign consultant Michael Terris wrote in an email that Stark “fought his entire career to protect Social Security from those who would dismantle it. Congressman Stark has been paying into the system for many years. And yes, like all Americans, he and his family intend to collect the benefits to which they are eligible.”

Stark, 80, earned his M.B.A. at UC Berkeley in 1960 and went on to make a fortune early in his career starting a successful bank in Walnut Creek. Stark’s net worth is estimated as high as $27 million and is ranked as the 74th wealthiest member of Congress.

According to the Social Security Administration, “4.4 million children receive approximately $2.5 billion each month because one or both of their parents are disabled, retired or deceased. Those dollars help to provide the necessities of life for family members and help to make it possible for those children to complete high school. When a parent becomes disabled or dies, Social Security benefits help to stabilize the family’s financial future.”



http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2012/08/17/pete-stark-defends-social-security-payments-to-his-kids-delinquent-dues/

[pnwmom]

1. If he's a Representative, how is it that he's considered retired? n/t

[marybourg]

2. You don't have to be retired to collect

and since he's 80, he needs to collect or he'd lose money, but children do need to be under 18 to collect from a deceased parent's account. Used to be older if child was a full time student, but that was eliminated.

[Liberal_in_LA]

4. an 80 year old with children under 18?

[LiberalAndProud]

11. His wife appears to be quite young.

There's a family photo at the link.

[Maine-ah]

8. you can still collect if you're a student over 18

or disabled.

http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10085.html#a0=2

Though I collected from age 20 to 22, and I wasn't a student, or disabled, but that was almost 20 years ago.

[marybourg]

10. Only if you're an elementary or

secondary student, not a college student any longer. See your citation.

[Maine-ah]

14. you only specified student

in your post, nothing about college - so I stand by my post.

[senseandsensibility]

3. He had a peace sign on the side of his bank in Walnut Creek during the Vietnam War.

I love him.

[RandySF]

5. I know a lot of great politicians do develop a sense of entitlement.

A long tenure in office often gives one the idea that they did in the past excuses what they do in the present.

[southernyankeebelle]

6. Why shouldn't his kids collect them if he is eligible to collect. He paid into the system.

[SickOfTheOnePct]

7. I need to stop being lazy and read the link

because I was thinking the same thing - if they're eligible, why shouldn't they collect?

[dsc]

9. I don't see a problem with his kids getting SS if they are entitled to it

I am adamantly opposed to means testing SS and Medicare.

[cali]

12. I read the article. I still don't understand how it is that

his kids are entitled to Social Security payments.

[LiberalAndProud]

13. Stark has retired

in that sense that he applied for Social Security benefits at some time in the past. He reached full retirement age at age 65. He has three minor children. Because their father is retired, they are eligible to receive benefits.

[dsc]

16. I am guessing that if one is collecting SS and has minor children

than the children are entitled.

[bluedeminredstate]

15. My son got benefits

When my husband began collecting his SS two years ago our son was a junior in high school. He received a check for half the benefits my husband received each month until he finished high school. As soon as he graduated the benefits stopped. Our daughter who was in college at the time didn't receive anything.