A looming Social Security shortfall could happen much sooner because of pandemic spending and its impact on the birth rate.…
Why Social Security Needs Immigrants
Because unauthorized immigrants pay billions of dollars in payroll taxes, they are one solution to the Social Security solvency problem.…
Will You Get Your Social Security Benefits?
The 2014 Social Security Trustees Report says that after we deplete the remains of the program’s trust funds in 2033, payroll taxes will not provide all promised benefits.…
More Than a Mandate
Yesterday, the odds on intrade were 76% that the Supreme Court will declare the health care insurance mandate unconstitutional. This started me thinking about Social Security during 1935. Several stat…
Aging Benefits
When you combine better health care with generous pensions you get (choose one): happy retirees happy politicians insufficiently funded national pension programs the eurozone the United States other &…
A Social Security Collision
Ask a 56-year old and a 26-year old about Social Security and you will probably get very different answers. In the NY Times, an unemployed 56 year old woman said: “My investments took a ba…
Medicare Math
The ratio is 3 to 1. The “3” is how much Medicare recipients are receiving. The “1” is what they paid. Still though, you can see from this NPR report why most people call Medic…
Regulatory "Pay-Go"
Too much regulation? Senator Mark Warner’s proposed legislation is an interesting approach. Concerned that regulation is “stifling fresh investment and discouraging innovation,” Sena…
Social Insecurity: Part 2
The average social security check received by a retired grandma is $1169. Multiply that by 35 million recipients, add to it other social security obligations, and this year, you have more money leavin…
Social Insecurity
Is there a “lock box” with surplus social security funds? Sort of. In 1983, when we had inadequate funding for the social security program, a commission led by Alan Green…