Hopeless Situation?

[vsjhoc]

Re: Hopeless Situation?

They said that they opted out of SS because neither the churches nor they could afford to contribute the money to it.

I didn't know you could opt out of SS. How does that work?

[rduell]

Re: Hopeless Situation?

I found this information on opting out on The Tennessee Baptist Convention's website.

A minister can opt out of Social Security by meeting strict IRS guidelines required when filing Form 4361. Form 4361 is entitled Application for Exemption from Self-Employment Tax for Use by Ministers, Members of Religious Orders and Christian Science Practitioners.


It looks like it boils down to having a religious or conscientious objection to receiving public insurance benefits. I'm sure there's more to it but wasn't up to reading the entire IRS form.

[vsjhoc]

Re: Hopeless Situation?

I found this information on opting out on The Tennessee Baptist Convention's website.

A minister can opt out of Social Security by meeting strict IRS guidelines required when filing Form 4361. Form 4361 is entitled Application for Exemption from Self-Employment Tax for Use by Ministers, Members of Religious Orders and Christian Science Practitioners.


It looks like it boils down to having a religious or conscientious objection to receiving public insurance benefits. I'm sure there's more to it but wasn't up to reading the entire IRS form.

Thanks for providing this info. I'm certainly not a minister but had never heard anything about this. I guess a minister opting out would forfeit any money s/he had paid in to SS over a lifetime. Interesting.

[boefixepa]

Re: Hopeless Situation?

Wow, I can't imagine being in that situation. I have faith, but I also believe in work. It's after ALL you can do that you let God pick up the rest. It seems like this couple expects God to just take care of them without too much effort on their part. A hard call. It's interesting the way churches set up their systems. The advice already given seems proper, but I really don't see a way out this one that anyone is going to like. He's going to have to continue to work.