Description: Discusses a proposal that Social Security retirement benefits should be adjusted according to a special cost-of-living index based upon retirees spending habits rather than the familiar CPI.

Description: This article is about a seminar held on October 30, 1997 to discuss mortality improvement in the NAFTA countries and the impact of such improvements on the financing and benefit adequacy of the countries’ individual social security systems. The gathering of about 80 researchers from a variety of disciplines served as a type of summit meeting on the NAFTA countries’ mortality projections. The seminar was Phase 2 of a three-phase SOA research project, 'Impact of Mortality Improvement on Social Security: Canada, Mexico, and the United States.' The project is intended to provide some guidance for appropriate governmental bodies to use in determining future financing and benefit needs for social security. It is sponsored by the SOA, The Actuarial Foundation [formerly the SOA Foundation], the Retirement Research Foundation, the American Society of Pension Actuaries, the social security administration of each NAFTA country, and the Pension Research Council.

Description: This article is about a consumer education program sponsored by the Society of Actuaries Foundation, “On the edge of change: Putting Social Security back in balance” and plans for a similar project dealing with Medicare in the future.

Description: Part Two of a 3 part discussion of: Social Security System for the 21st Century. This part outlines some of the key characteristics of the viable social security system of the 21st century.

Description: In this year’s Trustees’ Reports, recently submitted to the Congress, most attention focuses on the cash benefits program which is projected to have an actuarial deficit of about 3% of taxable payroll, over the 75-year valuation period.

Description: Discusses areas in which Social Security could be improved and possible changes that may come about.

Description: This article presents a summary of ideas discussed in a 1999 symposium on the subject of the pros and cons of privatization as an element of the U.S. Social Security system. The four main topics addressed were: 1. Overview of Social Security reform. 2. Pros and cons of privatization. 3. Impact of privatization. 4. Practical issues of privatization. From: The Actuary, September 1999 – volume 33 - Issue 7.

Description: The standard for measuring retirement income adequacy has been the final earnings replacement rate (usually targeted at 70%). But - does it work?

Description: In this article the author offers ideas on how indexing can be used to help control the cost of Social Security in order to create long term financial stability and restore public confidence in the system.

Description: The Social Security Act provides that, on or before April 1 of each year, the Board of Trustees of the OASDI trust funds and the two Medicare trust funds should submit to Congress reports presenting statistical operational data, future cost estimates, other actuarial analyses, and financing recommendations. The 1975 Report shows the worsening financial plight of the program.