Urban InstituteRetirement Policy Center

FEATURED

Events: The Future of Social Security

In three timely forums, Urban Institute scholars and an array of experts from leading Washington institutions discussed where Social Security is headed and how to smooth its path. Listen to the debate over raising the retirement age, the adequacy and equity of existing benefits, and the impact of Social Security on the federal budget.

Social Security and the Budget

Social Security serves as the flagship of social welfare policy, but it is placing increasing demands on the economy. Done the right way Social Security reform can generate higher national output, personal income, and revenues for Social Security and other purposes—helping the nation achieve budget sustainability and a stronger Social Security system.  >Read more

 

Research Spotlight

Who will bear the costs of balancing Social Security’s finances? It depends on how we fix the system. For example, reducing cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) would hit low-earning households more than high-earning ones, but increasing the system’s full retirement age (FRA) would have the opposite effect.

Benefit reduction by lifetime earnings, 2050

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Source: Distributional Effects of Alternative Social Security Reforms: Details Matter (2010)

Key Questions about Retirement

How is retirement changing, how can workers prepare, and how can policymakers improve retirement security?

 
 

In the News

Lowering the Heat around Raising Retirement Age
(San Francisco Chronicle)
August 27, 2010

The Situation Room
(CNN)
August 9, 2010

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