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Social Security

Social Security. POLS 21: The American Political System. A Brief History of Social Security. Beginning in the mid-19 th century, four important demographic changes occurred that rendered the traditional system of economic security unworkable:. The Industrial Revolution

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Social Security

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  1. Social Security POLS 21: The American Political System

  2. A Brief History of Social Security Beginning in the mid-19th century, four important demographic changes occurred that rendered the traditional system of economic security unworkable: • The Industrial Revolution • The urbanization of America • The disappearance of the “extended” family • A marked increase in life expectancy

  3. Male and Female Life Expectancy, 1900-2080

  4. How Does Social Security Work? • Today, about 54 million Americans receive over $701 billion in Social Security benefits every year. • The current age for full retirement benefits is 65, but that is being gradually increased to 67. • Those benefits are paid for by over 140 million workers who are taxed at 7.65% of their earnings (the familiar FICA on your pay stub, which stands for the Federal Insurance Contributions Act), up to a maximum of $110,100 to fund the system.

  5. How Much is a Social Security Benefit? The amount of a Social Security retirement benefit is based on several things: • How much time you spent in the workforce; • How much money you made while working; • Your age when you start receiving benefits;

  6. An Impending Crisis? • We are living longer and healthier lives. • 76 million “Baby Boomers”—those born after World War II, between 1946 and 1964—will begin retiring beginning in the year 2010.

  7. Key Dates According to the Social Security Trustee’s Annual Report, here is a summary of key dates to keep in mind:

  8. Raise the payroll tax across the board, or just for the wealthy. Raise or eliminate the maximum amount of taxable earnings. Raise the age at which retirees become eligible for full benefits. Options for Reform • Cut benefits across the board, or just for the wealthy. Which—if any—of these proposals is politically viable? Which—if any—of these proposals is politically viable? • Raise the rate of return by investing the trust fund more aggressively . • Add to the trust fund by diverting funds from other areas. • Privatize Social Security so that individual workers can contribute to (and manage) their own accounts. • Grow the economy.

  9. Raise the payroll tax across the board, or just for the wealthy. Raise or eliminate the maximum amount of taxable earnings. Raise the age at which retirees become eligible for full benefits. Options for Reform • Cut benefits across the board, or just for the wealthy. Which—if any—of these proposals is politically viable? • Raise the rate of return by investing the trust fund more aggressively . • Add to the trust fund by diverting funds from other areas. • Privatize Social Security so that individual workers can contribute to (and manage) their own accounts. • Grow the economy.

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