The Truth about the Trustees Report
Here it is in a nutshell…the truth about the2010 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report.Of course, the facts don’t fit the crisis calls from fiscal hawks and the main stream media so don’t be surprised when most of thesedetails don’t make the headlines in your local papers tomorrow.Social Security is still fully funded for 27 years, a COLA increase unlikely for the second year in a row, and health care reform extends Medicare?s solvency
- The 2010 Trustees report shows recently enacted health care reform will strengthen Medicare.
Trustees project that health care reform?s Medicare provisions will extend solvency 12 years, from 2017 to 2029.Health care reform was a vital first step; however, the work is not finished. Congress must continue to address long-range cost containment in private health care systems to avoid creating provider access problems for Medicare beneficiaries.The 2010 Trustees report shows Social Security is not facing an immediate threat.
- Trustees project Social Security will be able to pay full benefits until the year 2037. After that, Social Security will have sufficient revenue to pay about 78% of benefits.
- Low inflation means 2011 is likely to be the second year of no cost of living allowance for beneficiaries. By statute, zero COLA?s would also mean no Medicare Part B premium increase for about three-quarters of all beneficiaries. However, the remaining beneficiaries, including newly enrolled seniors and higher income seniors, will see larger premium hikes in Part B to cover the difference. Premiums for Part D, the prescription drug benefit, are not subject to this limitation and are expected to continue increasing.
- The change in short-term projections is a short-term fiscal problem, not a Social Security problem. What is happening is the annual cash surpluses collected in payroll taxes only (ignoring other revenue sources like trust fund interest) are projected to be down for 2010 and 2011, not surprising given the high unemployment rate that the country is experiencing. Fewer workers mean fewer contributions. But the economy will rebound, and in the meantime the program is able to rely on income from interest on the $2.5 trillion in reserves the Trust Fund has accumulated. Annual fluctuations such as these are anticipated in the long-term projections by the Trustees ? confirmed by the fact that the insolvency projection in 2037 has not changed.
- The Disability Trust Fund faces a more immediate threat. Trustees project the DI Trust Fund will be exhausted in 2018 and recommend a reallocation of the payroll tax rate between OASI and DI, as was done in 1994.
?The 2010 Social Security Trustees Report confirms that the Social Security program is weathering these difficult economic times, providing stability and security to millions of Americans rocked by the recession. In the face of this adversity, the Social Security program has stood its ground, and remains able to pay all benefits through 2037, the same date the Trustees projected last year. Americans should be encouraged by this good news from the Trustees? Report. And contrary to the doom and gloom crowd?s crisis calls, the Medicare Trustees confirm recently enacted Medicare reforms will add years to that program?s solvency.?…Barbara B. Kennelly, President/CEO, The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
Dancing Grannies for Medicare
Here’s our favorite video of the month by far! More than 100 folks showed up in Manhattan on Medicare’s Anniversary to protest the Fiscal Commission’s targeting Medicare for cuts in the name of deficit control.
Women will be disproportionately harmed by benefit cuts to Social Security
By Terry O’Neill, President, National Organization of Women
Social Security, one of our country’s most important and successful social insurance programs, is especially vital to women, who would be disproportionately harmed by the cuts in benefits some in Washington are now proposing. The “three-legged stool of retirement” is meant to consist of a pension, personal savings, and Social Security. But all too often, women have neither a pension nor savings. In fact, fewer than one in three women has income from a pension. Moreover, after a lifetime of wage discrimination, women are far more likely than men to have little in the way of personal savings. The situation for women of color is particularly dire. According to a recent report by the Insight Center, women of color often have no personal savings, or even negative net worth, as they head into retirement. As a result, Social Security is the mainstay for millions of older women. Every year, a major share of the nearly 24 million women age 62 and older who receive benefits are kept out of poverty because of Social Security. Often that monthly Social Security check is their only income. The members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform must act responsibly and reject any effort to reduce entitlement program benefits — now or in the future. Raising the retirement age to 70 would be an especially cruel benefit cut, forcing a hardship on millions of women (and men) who have physically demanding jobs, as our sister organization the Older Women’s League (OWL) has found. If anything, Social Security benefits should be improved — especially for elderly women, because many exhaust their savings as they grow older, and for disabled, divorced and never-married women who have had modest incomes and have been unable to save and invest for retirement. Reducing benefits for these women would be calamitous. Rather than cutting Social Security and putting millions of women’s financial security at risk, the Fiscal Commission should address the real causes of the deficit — unfunded wars, irresponsible tax breaks for the wealthiest, and an economic crisis caused by financial regulatory failures. Women are watching the commissioners, but will we be invisible to them?
The War Against Social Security Continues…
Ashley Carson, OWL Executive Director,Guest Blogger
Today, the fiscal commission met to discuss how to bring our country?s finances under control, and again the conversation led directly to Social Security. This is always shocking because Social Security did not contribute a penny to our current financial woes. Instead, Social Security has created an enormous surplus that we have invested in US Treasury bonds, and the money was used to pay for many things we needed as a country, but also many things we didn?t need as a country.Someday, our debt obligation on those treasury bonds will come due in order to cover scheduled Social Security benefits. It?s not a complicated process, just as putting money in a savings account at your local bank is not rocket science. For decades, we, the American people, have paid our Social Security taxes diligently. So much so, that a whole lot more money went into the Social Security program than was being used to pay out benefits. This is where the word surplus comes in. The surplus, or the extra pile of cash in the Social Security trust fund, was invested in bonds to be repaid when we needed them to pay out Social Security benefits.If you were making so much more money in your monthly budget than you were paying out in bills, you would likely put the extra in a savings account or invest it in some type of interest bearing financial product. Bonds, as you might learn in finance 101, are one of the safest and most secure long-term investment products. This is exactly what we did with the Social Security surplus. You would expect that when your bond came due, you would collect your original investment plus a little interest.The problem is, the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform talks about Social Security as if the American public doesn?t understand this process and instead continues to make the case that Social Security is facing a pending crisis. They claim that Social Security is in crisis because in the future we need to repay the bonds.Now, instead of spending hours and hours figuring out how to repay the bonds as they come due, they are promulgating ideas on how to cut future Social Security benefits and therefore reduce our debt obligation. Essentially, it?s a plan to not pay back all of what?s owed on the investment bonds. This is similar to you walking into the bank to cash out your $1000 savings account and the bank teller saying, ?How about I give you $800 instead and we call it good??Today Barry Anderson, formerly with OMB, talked about the fact that he teaches college kids nationwide that they are suckers to believe that Social Security will be there for them. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky criticized his statement by saying, ?For you to suggest to young people that Social Security somehow will be significantly diminished and they?re suckers to believe otherwise, I think is a distortion of the history of the program and the commitment of the Congress for it to be there?[W]e?re going to make sure that Social Security is a significant part of retirement security for generations to come. 77% of Americans believe that it is critical that we preserve Social Security for generations to come even if it means increasing working Americans? contributions to Social Security…?Our financial crisis was caused by reckless spending and inattention to proper revenues. Figuring out how to pay our debts as a nation is something we are obligated to do. In order to pay our debts we have to raise revenues and cut expenditures. One thing is certain, the American people collectively do not need cuts to future Social Security benefits. If anything, Social Security is a baseline program that a disproportionate number of older women rely upon for survival. Social Security needs to be strengthened, supported and taken off of the table as a means of any type of solution to our larger financial woes.
Fill in the Blank
What would life forAmerican familiesbe like without Social Security?If President Roosevelt had never signed the Social Security Act, we know millions of Americans ? retirees, the disabled and survivors– would be threatened with poverty today.As we celebrate 75 years of Social Security success stories it?s important we hear from Americans of all ages to remind Washington that Social Security is especially important during tough economy times like these.So, ask yourself, what does Social Security mean to you and your family? Then, we want you to fill in the blank: Without Social Security ____________________.Your answers will be the basis for our next National Committee video, celebrating 75 years of American success stories, shared by working Americans who live them each and every day. Can you imagine living without Social Security? Probably not. So, tell us how Social Security fills the blank in the lives of your family, friends and loved ones and we’ll share your story.You can leave your comments here on the blog or on our National Committee Facebook Page.
The Truth about the Trustees Report
Here it is in a nutshell…the truth about the2010 Social Security and Medicare Trustees Report.Of course, the facts don’t fit the crisis calls from fiscal hawks and the main stream media so don’t be surprised when most of thesedetails don’t make the headlines in your local papers tomorrow.Social Security is still fully funded for 27 years, a COLA increase unlikely for the second year in a row, and health care reform extends Medicare?s solvency
- The 2010 Trustees report shows recently enacted health care reform will strengthen Medicare.
Trustees project that health care reform?s Medicare provisions will extend solvency 12 years, from 2017 to 2029.Health care reform was a vital first step; however, the work is not finished. Congress must continue to address long-range cost containment in private health care systems to avoid creating provider access problems for Medicare beneficiaries.The 2010 Trustees report shows Social Security is not facing an immediate threat.
- Trustees project Social Security will be able to pay full benefits until the year 2037. After that, Social Security will have sufficient revenue to pay about 78% of benefits.
- Low inflation means 2011 is likely to be the second year of no cost of living allowance for beneficiaries. By statute, zero COLA?s would also mean no Medicare Part B premium increase for about three-quarters of all beneficiaries. However, the remaining beneficiaries, including newly enrolled seniors and higher income seniors, will see larger premium hikes in Part B to cover the difference. Premiums for Part D, the prescription drug benefit, are not subject to this limitation and are expected to continue increasing.
- The change in short-term projections is a short-term fiscal problem, not a Social Security problem. What is happening is the annual cash surpluses collected in payroll taxes only (ignoring other revenue sources like trust fund interest) are projected to be down for 2010 and 2011, not surprising given the high unemployment rate that the country is experiencing. Fewer workers mean fewer contributions. But the economy will rebound, and in the meantime the program is able to rely on income from interest on the $2.5 trillion in reserves the Trust Fund has accumulated. Annual fluctuations such as these are anticipated in the long-term projections by the Trustees ? confirmed by the fact that the insolvency projection in 2037 has not changed.
- The Disability Trust Fund faces a more immediate threat. Trustees project the DI Trust Fund will be exhausted in 2018 and recommend a reallocation of the payroll tax rate between OASI and DI, as was done in 1994.
?The 2010 Social Security Trustees Report confirms that the Social Security program is weathering these difficult economic times, providing stability and security to millions of Americans rocked by the recession. In the face of this adversity, the Social Security program has stood its ground, and remains able to pay all benefits through 2037, the same date the Trustees projected last year. Americans should be encouraged by this good news from the Trustees? Report. And contrary to the doom and gloom crowd?s crisis calls, the Medicare Trustees confirm recently enacted Medicare reforms will add years to that program?s solvency.?…Barbara B. Kennelly, President/CEO, The National Committee to Preserve Social Security and Medicare
Dancing Grannies for Medicare
Here’s our favorite video of the month by far! More than 100 folks showed up in Manhattan on Medicare’s Anniversary to protest the Fiscal Commission’s targeting Medicare for cuts in the name of deficit control.
Women will be disproportionately harmed by benefit cuts to Social Security
By Terry O’Neill, President, National Organization of Women
Social Security, one of our country’s most important and successful social insurance programs, is especially vital to women, who would be disproportionately harmed by the cuts in benefits some in Washington are now proposing. The “three-legged stool of retirement” is meant to consist of a pension, personal savings, and Social Security. But all too often, women have neither a pension nor savings. In fact, fewer than one in three women has income from a pension. Moreover, after a lifetime of wage discrimination, women are far more likely than men to have little in the way of personal savings. The situation for women of color is particularly dire. According to a recent report by the Insight Center, women of color often have no personal savings, or even negative net worth, as they head into retirement. As a result, Social Security is the mainstay for millions of older women. Every year, a major share of the nearly 24 million women age 62 and older who receive benefits are kept out of poverty because of Social Security. Often that monthly Social Security check is their only income. The members of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform must act responsibly and reject any effort to reduce entitlement program benefits — now or in the future. Raising the retirement age to 70 would be an especially cruel benefit cut, forcing a hardship on millions of women (and men) who have physically demanding jobs, as our sister organization the Older Women’s League (OWL) has found. If anything, Social Security benefits should be improved — especially for elderly women, because many exhaust their savings as they grow older, and for disabled, divorced and never-married women who have had modest incomes and have been unable to save and invest for retirement. Reducing benefits for these women would be calamitous. Rather than cutting Social Security and putting millions of women’s financial security at risk, the Fiscal Commission should address the real causes of the deficit — unfunded wars, irresponsible tax breaks for the wealthiest, and an economic crisis caused by financial regulatory failures. Women are watching the commissioners, but will we be invisible to them?
The War Against Social Security Continues…
Ashley Carson, OWL Executive Director,Guest Blogger
Today, the fiscal commission met to discuss how to bring our country?s finances under control, and again the conversation led directly to Social Security. This is always shocking because Social Security did not contribute a penny to our current financial woes. Instead, Social Security has created an enormous surplus that we have invested in US Treasury bonds, and the money was used to pay for many things we needed as a country, but also many things we didn?t need as a country.Someday, our debt obligation on those treasury bonds will come due in order to cover scheduled Social Security benefits. It?s not a complicated process, just as putting money in a savings account at your local bank is not rocket science. For decades, we, the American people, have paid our Social Security taxes diligently. So much so, that a whole lot more money went into the Social Security program than was being used to pay out benefits. This is where the word surplus comes in. The surplus, or the extra pile of cash in the Social Security trust fund, was invested in bonds to be repaid when we needed them to pay out Social Security benefits.If you were making so much more money in your monthly budget than you were paying out in bills, you would likely put the extra in a savings account or invest it in some type of interest bearing financial product. Bonds, as you might learn in finance 101, are one of the safest and most secure long-term investment products. This is exactly what we did with the Social Security surplus. You would expect that when your bond came due, you would collect your original investment plus a little interest.The problem is, the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform talks about Social Security as if the American public doesn?t understand this process and instead continues to make the case that Social Security is facing a pending crisis. They claim that Social Security is in crisis because in the future we need to repay the bonds.Now, instead of spending hours and hours figuring out how to repay the bonds as they come due, they are promulgating ideas on how to cut future Social Security benefits and therefore reduce our debt obligation. Essentially, it?s a plan to not pay back all of what?s owed on the investment bonds. This is similar to you walking into the bank to cash out your $1000 savings account and the bank teller saying, ?How about I give you $800 instead and we call it good??Today Barry Anderson, formerly with OMB, talked about the fact that he teaches college kids nationwide that they are suckers to believe that Social Security will be there for them. Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky criticized his statement by saying, ?For you to suggest to young people that Social Security somehow will be significantly diminished and they?re suckers to believe otherwise, I think is a distortion of the history of the program and the commitment of the Congress for it to be there?[W]e?re going to make sure that Social Security is a significant part of retirement security for generations to come. 77% of Americans believe that it is critical that we preserve Social Security for generations to come even if it means increasing working Americans? contributions to Social Security…?Our financial crisis was caused by reckless spending and inattention to proper revenues. Figuring out how to pay our debts as a nation is something we are obligated to do. In order to pay our debts we have to raise revenues and cut expenditures. One thing is certain, the American people collectively do not need cuts to future Social Security benefits. If anything, Social Security is a baseline program that a disproportionate number of older women rely upon for survival. Social Security needs to be strengthened, supported and taken off of the table as a means of any type of solution to our larger financial woes.
Fill in the Blank
What would life forAmerican familiesbe like without Social Security?If President Roosevelt had never signed the Social Security Act, we know millions of Americans ? retirees, the disabled and survivors– would be threatened with poverty today.As we celebrate 75 years of Social Security success stories it?s important we hear from Americans of all ages to remind Washington that Social Security is especially important during tough economy times like these.So, ask yourself, what does Social Security mean to you and your family? Then, we want you to fill in the blank: Without Social Security ____________________.Your answers will be the basis for our next National Committee video, celebrating 75 years of American success stories, shared by working Americans who live them each and every day. Can you imagine living without Social Security? Probably not. So, tell us how Social Security fills the blank in the lives of your family, friends and loved ones and we’ll share your story.You can leave your comments here on the blog or on our National Committee Facebook Page.