Description: This meeting session, which occurred at the April 1982 Society of Actuaries meeting in Orlando, presented a discussion of U.S. Social Security issues. Questions discussed included: 1. What is the financial status of the Social Security program? 2. What changes have been recently adopted and what changes have been proposed? 3. How would these changes affect the private pension system costs and plan design? 4. What is the proper role of the actuarial profession regarding the Social Security program? Included discussion of the paper, Constant Replacement Ratios in Retirement: A Theoretical Approach,' by Barnet N. Berin and Anthony B. Richter.

Description: This 1982 discussion session addresses three questions: 1. How will continued high rates of inflation affect the financial needs of retired persons, both absolutely and in comparison with other segments of the population?, 2. What effects will there be on the age of retirement and the need for retirement income?, and 3. To what extent will these needs be met from social programs, private plans or individual savings?