Description: Article from The Actuary, June 1975, Volume 9, No. 6 on the release of the book Ernst & Ernst GAAP - Stock Life Companies, 653 pages, Ernst & Ernst, 1974. This volume will be sought after by every individual connected with GAAP work as a guide, as an explanatory text, and as a book of reference. This reviewer suggests that the Introduction be required reading for all actuaries whether or not they are actively at work in GAAP.

Description: Argues that the budget for the Social Security program should not be 'unified'with the rest of the federal budget in evaluating the federal deficit.

Description: The author analyzes the arguments for and against a Social Security earnings test and concludes with a recommendation the author believes is consistent with the proper purpose and nature of the old-age, survivors, and disability insurance [OASDI] system. Includes discussion and author’s review of discussion. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1982 Volume 34.

Description: The article notes, as explained in Norman Solomon’s paper, TSA XV, 167, so-called windfall appropriations are required annually to finance dual benefits to which certain railroad workers became eligible under the Railroad Retirement Act in consequence of pre-1975 employment that entitled them to both Railroad Retirement and Social Security benefits. The author then notes that the Office of Management and Budget has arbitrarily reduced revised appropriations, and that “the actuarial profession should take a strong stand against this by-passing of actuarial determinations.”

Description: This paper includes three discussions. The first is about permanent type insurance used as a substitute for group term insurance. The second discussion is about long-term disability experience, offsets and underwriting. The third discussion is about medical care expense insurance including experience, trends, impact of Medicare and COB. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1968, Vol. 20 Pt. 2, No. 56

Description: This paper discusses decoupling of social security - meaning that the coupling of actual benefits for those already beneficiaries and potential benefits for future beneficiaries be broken. The purposes are to describe the environment, the problem which decoupling addresses and the importance of a rational solution. The paper discusses the wage-indexing approach and the price-indexing approach. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1977, Vol. 29.

Description: From the 1960 Transactions Vol. 12 No. 32, this ‘Digest of Informal Discussion’ addresses current developments and proposals with respect to Social Security legislation in the United States and Canada, and individual retirement legislation.

Description: This article is a review of the 1977 book “The Future of Social Security,” by Alicia H. Munnell, formerly on the staff of the Brookings Institution and now an Assistant Vice President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Boston. The author of this review notes that the financial problems of the Old-Age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance program have drawn considerable public attention during the past few years, and this has produced quite a number of books and papers on the subject with various recommendations as to what should be done about the future of the program. The reviewer thinks highly of this book, which covers the philosophical questions of individual equity vs. social adequacy, and the question of the effect of OASDI on savings and capital accumulation. Note: A detailed review of the book will appear in the Transactions.

Description: This paper summarizes the legislative history in 1966 and 1967 of the amendments to Social Security, including Medicare and Medicaid, that were enacted and of the significant Unemployment Insurance legislation that was almost enacted. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1968, Vol. 20, Pt. 1, No. 57.

Description: This paper first summarizes the recent operations of the OASDI and Public Assistance PA programs. Then, the legislative history of the 1960 Amendments is presented in some detail, since proposals advocated unsuccessfully, or even passed by one House, often are embodied in subsequent legislation. Finally, the provisions of the OASDI system following the 1960 Amendments are summarized by categories, with particular emphasis on changes made and on financing aspects. From Transactions of Society of Actuaries 1960, Vol. 13, No. 36 AB.