Description: The 1977 Amendments to the Social Security Act provided for a one-time National Commission on Social Security with broad mandate to study the OASDI and Medicare programs. The author discusses the substantial proposals put forth by the Commission in its report released in January 1981, which would affect both OASDI and Medicare.

Description: Social Security Disability Insurance DI experience in 1980 is continuing most recent trends, but changing somewhat in a few others.

Description: This article is a summary and analysis of the 1977 Annual Reports of the Board of Trustees of the Federal Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance Trust Funds, of the Federal Hospital Insurance Trust Fund, and the Federal Supplementary Medical Insurance Trust Fund. The author notes that an excellent introduction to these reports may be obtained by reading the Commentary Prepared to Assist in the Reading and Interpretation of the Reports, prepared by A. Haeworth Robertson, Chief Actuary of the Social Security Administration. Note: A more extensive review of the Reports will appear in the Transactions.

Description: This article is a review of the book “Social Security” by Robert J. Myers, published in 1975 by Richard D. Irwin, Inc. The reviewer calls the book a “marvelous reference source from which to draw in getting a fix on literally hundreds of the finer points relating to eligibility, the method of calculating benefits, in fact the whole background and evolution of these benefits and methods,” and notes the book will be of value to anyone who works with employee benefits that relate in some way to the Social Security system.

Description: Book Review: Within the System: My Half Century in Social Security by Robert Myers . 'This splendid book' tells of Mr. Myers remarkable public service career and appraises the influence of many American politicians.

Description: The author examines if the actuarial profession is focused enough on what may be a worldwide social insurance and social security revolution.

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 discusses the relative merits of investing some Social Security assets in common stocks either by 1. Adjusting the retirement benefits and taxes, and investing part of the Social Security trust funds in the stock market [the 'defined benefit,' or DB, method], or 2. Reduce the basic retirement benefits further, and have workers invest part of their future contributions in individual accounts [the 'defined contributions,' or DC, method].

Description: The author summarizes her experience participating as an expert as part of a forum that was launched to give the public a neutral avenue through which to express views on the U.S. Social Security program and possible reforms. This particular forum focused on women's issues with respect to Social Security.

Description: Discusses the report of the fifth Advisory Council which provides recommendations for improving Social Security.