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Social Security: Raising or Eliminating the Taxable Earnings Base

Description: This report discusses the Social Security taxes that are levied on covered earnings up to a maximum level (base) set each year. It includes information about how the base has been determined demographically and how it has changed over time, as well as possible future implications and impacts of either raising or eliminating the base, with arguments for and against.
Date: October 26, 2018
Creator: Zhe, Li.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Social Security Retirement Age

Description: This report discusses the social security retirement age and the differences in monthly benefits received by individuals taking social security early or after full retirement age (FRA). Increases in the retirement age and various proposals related to changes in the timing of benefits is also discussed.
Date: February 28, 2018
Creator: Nuschler, Dawn
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Primer

Description: This report provides an overview of Social Security financing and benefits under current law. The report covers a brief history of the program; Social Security financing and the status of the trust funds; how Social Security benefits are computed; the types of Social Security benefits available to workers and their family members; the basic eligibility requirements for each type of benefit; the scheduled increase in the Social Security retirement age; and the federal income taxation of Social S… more
Date: November 30, 2017
Creator: Nuschler, Dawn
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security: Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Description: This report discusses the cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) for Social Security and the upcoming COLA set to begin in January 2018. Calculations used to determine COLA amounts and a brief history of their use is also included.
Date: October 26, 2017
Creator: Whittaker, Julie M.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security: The Trust Funds

Description: This report covers how the Social Security program is financed and how the Social Security trust funds work. It will be updated annually to reflect current projections of the financial status of the Social Security trust funds.
Date: September 12, 2017
Creator: Morton, William R. & Liou, Wayne
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security: What Would Happen if the Trust Funds Ran Out?

Description: This report explains what the Social Security trust funds are and how they work. It describes the historical operations of the trust funds and the Social Security trustees' projections of future operations. It explains what could happen if Congress allowed the trust funds to run out. It also analyzes two scenarios that assume Congress waits until the moment of insolvency to act, showing the magnitude of benefit cuts or tax increases needed and how such changes would affect beneficiaries.
Date: September 12, 2017
Creator: Morton, William R. & Liou, Wayne
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Growing Gap in Life Expectancy by Income: Recent Evidence and Implications for the Social Security Retirement Age

Description: This report provides a brief overview of the concept of life expectancy, how it is measured, and how it has changed over time in the United States. While life expectancy may be studied in a variety of contexts, this report focuses on the link between life expectancy and socioeconomic status (SES), as measured by lifetime income. In particular, this report synthesizes recent research on the life expectancy gap by income and the relationship between this gap and Social Security benefits. Finally,… more
Date: May 12, 2017
Creator: Isaacs, Katelin P. & Choudhury, Sharmila
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Primer

Description: This report provides an overview of Social Security financing and benefits under current law. Specifically, the report covers the origins and a brief history of the program; Social Security financing and the status of the trust funds; how Social Security benefits are computed; the types of Social Security benefits available to workers and their family members; the basic eligibility requirements for each type of benefit; the scheduled increase in the Social Security retirement age; and the feder… more
Date: December 5, 2016
Creator: Nuschler, Dawn
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Social Security Retirement Age

Description: This report discusses the two important ages that may affect a worker's plans to claim Social Security retired-worker benefits. Workers may claim full Social Security benefits at the full retirement age (FRA), which is rising gradually to age 67 for workers who were born in 1960 or later. Retired workers may claim benefits as early as age 62, which is known as the early eligibility age (EEA). Social Security benefits are reduced, however, for every month that retired worker benefits are claimed… more
Date: October 28, 2016
Creator: Liou, Wayne
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

Description: This report discusses the windfall elimination provision (WEP), which reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security. Its purpose is to remove an advantage or "windfall" these workers would otherwise receive as a result of the interaction between the Social Security benefit formula and the workers' relatively small portion of their careers in Social Security-covered employment. The report provides information about h… more
Date: May 25, 2016
Creator: Morton, William R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Community Services Block Grants (CSBG): Background and Funding

Description: This report provides information on the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which funds a network of local antipoverty agencies. It begins with background information on the CSBG and related activities, discusses a proposal pending in Congress to reauthorize CSBG and related activities, summarizes a new "Upward Mobility Project" initiative of the Obama Administration, and discusses current and recent funding activities affecting the CSBG.
Date: January 8, 2016
Creator: Spar, Karen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Potential Impact of No Social Security COLA on Medicare Part B Premiums in 2016

Description: This report provides an overview of Medicare Part B premiums, the relationship between the Social Security cost-of-living increase (COLA) and Part B premiums, and the potential impact of a projected 0% Social Security COLA in 2016 on Medicare premiums, based on recent projections by the Medicare Trustees.
Date: October 20, 2015
Creator: Davis, Patricia A.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security: The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

Description: This report discusses the windfall elimination provision (WEP) reduces the Social Security benefits of workers who also have pension benefits from employment not covered by Social Security. Its purpose is to remove an advantage or “windfall” these workers would otherwise receive as a result of the interaction between the Social Security benefit formula and the workers’ relatively small portion of their careers in Social Security-covered employment.
Date: June 30, 2015
Creator: Sidor, Gary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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The Social Security Retirement Age: In Brief

Description: This report discusses the two important ages that may affect a worker's plans to claim Social Security retired-worker benefits. Workers may claim full Social Security benefits at the full retirement age (FRA), which is rising gradually to age 67 for workers who were born in 1960 or later. Retired workers may claim benefits as early as age 62, which is known as the early eligibility age (EEA). Social Security benefits are reduced, however, for every month that retired worker benefits are claimed… more
Date: June 1, 2015
Creator: Sidor, Gary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Uncertainty in Financial Projections of Social Security

Description: The financial outlook for Social Security has been the subject of much analysis and debate. This report briefly discusses a report from the Social Security Board of Trustees which contains the federal government's official financial projections for the Social Security program.
Date: May 14, 2015
Creator: Meyerson, Noah P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security and Same-Sex Marriage: Frequently Asked Questions

Description: This report addresses a number of frequently asked questions regarding the eligibility of same-sex couples for Social Security benefits and the interpretation of state marriage laws. These questions include those relating to general eligibility and the application process for same-sex couples and those in other types of legal relationships.
Date: March 20, 2015
Creator: Lanza, Emily M.; Nuschler, Dawn & Morton, William R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Administration (SSA): Budget Issues

Description: This report provides an overview of the Social Security Administration's mandatory spending but largely focuses on discretionary appropriations for the agency's administrative expenses. The size of the annual appropriations for administrative expenses affects the agency's ability to effectively administer the SSA's benefit programs and conduct program integrity activities designed to ensure that only eligible persons receive federal benefits.
Date: February 23, 2015
Creator: Szymendera, Scott D.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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How Social Security Benefits Are Computed: In Brief

Description: This report discusses how Social Security benefits are currently computed, including information about eligibility, earnings, cost-of-living adjustments, factors that can affect benefit levels, and benefits for dependents.
Date: February 4, 2015
Creator: Meyerson, Noah P.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) Reform: An Overview of Proposals to Manage the Growth in the SSDI Rolls

Description: This report provides background information on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). Also, this report provides an overview of proposals to manage the long-term growth in the SSDI rolls. Most of the proposals focus on reducing the inflow (enrollment) of new beneficiaries into the program.
Date: January 9, 2015
Creator: Morton, William R.
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Community Services Block Grants (CSBG): Background and Funding

Description: This report provides information on the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), which is the modern-day program that continues to fund this network of local antipoverty agencies. The report also describes several smaller related programs that are administered by the same federal office that currently oversees the CSBG.
Date: January 5, 2015
Creator: Spar, Karen
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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Social Security: Cost-of-Living Adjustments

Description: To compensate for the effects of inflation, Social Security recipients usually receive an annual cost-of-living adjustment (COLA). Benefits will be increased by 1.7% in 2015, following an increase of 1.5% in 2014. This report discusses how the COLA is determined.
Date: October 29, 2014
Creator: Sidor, Gary
Partner: UNT Libraries Government Documents Department
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