Geographic Information
Federal
Elderly Poverty and Supplemental Security Income
Provided here are the absolute and relative poverty status of 2002 elderly Supplemental Security Income (SSI) recipients. Official poverty estimates are generated from the Current Population Survey's Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS/ASEC). The poverty study presented here differs from previous studies in that it is based on CPS/ASEC income and weight records conditionally adjusted by matching Social Security administrative data. This effort improves the coverage of SSI receipt and the accuracy of SSI estimates. The adjusted CPS/administrative matched data reveal lower 2002 poverty rates among elderly persons (with and without SSI payments) than those generated from the unadjusted CPS/ASEC data.
Estimated Retirement Benefits in the Social Security Statement
Alternate Measures of Replacement Rates for Social Security Benefits and Retirement Income
Replacement rates are common and useful tools used by individuals and policy analysts to plan for retirement and assess the sufficiency of Social Security benefits and overall retirement income. Because the calculation and meaning of replacement rates differs depending on the definition of preretirement earnings, this article examines four alternative measures: final preretirement earnings, constant income payable from the present value of lifetime earnings (PV payment), wage-indexed average of lifetime earnings, and inflation-adjusted average of lifetime earnings (CPI average). The article also calculates replacement rates for Social Security beneficiaries aged 64–66 in 2005.
The Reservation Wages of Social Security Disability Insurance Beneficiaries
Using the New Beneficiary Data System, this article examines the reservation wages of a sample of Social Security Disability Insurance (DI) beneficiaries with work capabilities. It analyzes the magnitude of the reservation wages of DI beneficiaries compared to the last wage earned and to benefit amounts. In addition, the article discusses the determinants of reservation wages for DI beneficiaries.
Benefit Adequacy Among Elderly Social Security Retired-Worker Beneficiaries and the SSI Federal Benefit Rate
The federal benefit rate (FBR) of the Supplemental Security Income program provides an inflation-indexed income guarantee for aged and disabled people with low assets. Some consider the FBR as an attractive measure of Social Security benefit adequacy. Others propose the FBR as an administratively simple, well-targeted minimum Social Security benefit. However, these claims have not been empirically tested. Using microdata from the Survey of Income and Program Participation, this article finds that the FBR is an imprecise measure of benefit adequacy; it incorrectly identifies as economically vulnerable many who are not poor, and disregards some who are poor. The reason for this is that the FBR-level benefit threshold of adequacy considers the Social Security benefit in isolation and ignores the family consumption unit. The FBR would provide an administratively simple but poorly targeted foundation for a minimum Social Security benefit. The empirical estimates quantify the substantial tradeoffs between administrative simplicity and target effectiveness.
Characteristics of Noninstitutionalized DI and SSI Program Participants
Poverty-level Annuitization Requirements in Social Security Proposals Incorporating Personal Retirement Accounts
In the current discussions of Social Security reform, voluntary personal retirement accounts have been proposed. Recent research and debate have focused on several aspects of these accounts, including how such accounts would affect aggregate saving, system finances, and benefit levels. Little attention, however, has been paid to policies that would govern the distribution of account balances. This analysis considers such policies with respect to the annuitization of account balances at retirement using the Social Security Administration's Modeling Income in the New Term (MINT) model and a modified version of a recent legislative proposal to evaluate the effects of partial annuitization requirements.
International
International Update, April 2009
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2008
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 48 countries in Asia and the Pacific. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, March 2009
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, February 2009
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, January 2009
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, December 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, November 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, October 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
The Canadian Safety Net for the Elderly
Canada's Public Pensions System is widely applauded for reducing poverty among the elderly. This article reviews benefits provided to Canada's older people and compares the Canadian system to the U.S. Supplemental Security Income program. Although Canada's system would probably be judged prohibitively expensive for the United States, the authors argue that there are nevertheless lessons to be learned from the Canadian experience.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2008
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 44 countries in Europe. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, September 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, August 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, July 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, June 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, May 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
The Evolution of Japanese Employer-Sponsored Retirement Plans
This article examines the development of Japanese voluntary employer-sponsored retirement plans with an emphasis on recent trends. Before 2001, companies in Japan offered retirement benefits as lump-sum severance payments and/or benefits from one of two types of defined benefit (DB) pension plans. One DB plan type was based on an earlier occupational pension model used in the United States. The other DB plan type allowed companies to opt out of the earnings-related portion of social security. Landmark laws passed in 2001 introduced a new generation of occupational retirement plans to employers and employees, creating three new DB plan designs and two new defined contribution types of plans. Since that time, the mix of employer-sponsored retirement plans offered in Japan has changed significantly, and overall employee coverage has declined. On balance, employer-sponsored retirement plans have remained largely DB in design.
International Update, April 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2007
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 36 countries in the Americas. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, March 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, February 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, January 2008
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, December 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, November 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, October 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, September 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2007
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 44 countries in Africa. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, August 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, July 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, June 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, May 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, April 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, March 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2006
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 48 countries in Asia and the Pacific. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, February 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, January 2007
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, December 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, November 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, October 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, September 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2006
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 44 countries in Europe. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, August 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, July 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, June 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, May 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, April 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2005
These reports, which provide a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in more than 170 countries, summarize the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. They are published in four regional volumes (Europe, Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and the Americas), one every 6 months. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, March 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, February 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, January 2006
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, December 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, November 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, October 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, September 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2005
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 44 countries in Africa. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, August 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, July 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, June 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, May 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, April 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, March 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2004
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 48 countries in Asia and the Pacific. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, February 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, January 2005
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, December 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, November 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, October 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, September 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2004
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 44 countries in Europe. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, August 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, July 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, June 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, May 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, April 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: The Americas, 2003
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 36 countries in the Americas. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and Africa. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
International Update, March 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, February 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, January 2004
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, December 2003
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, November 2003
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
International Update, October 2003
This monthly publication covers recent developments in foreign private and public pensions, social security, and retirement.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Africa, 2003
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 44 countries in Africa. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Asia and the Pacific, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
Recent Changes to the Chilean System of Individual Accounts
Chile was the first country to replace its public pay-as you-go system with individual accounts. Since its inception in 1981, the new program has undergone a number of changes that offer workers more choices than they had before. This note describes those changes, which include an increase in the type and number of funds from which a worker may choose for an individual account, more incentives for making additional voluntary contributions, and the introduction of a separate mandatory individual account for unemployment benefits.
Social Security Reform in Central and Eastern Europe: Variations on a Latin American Theme
The Latin American model of social security reform with individual accounts has been adopted by a number of Central and Eastern European countries. That alternative to a pay-as-you-go system is sometimes advocated as a desirable model for solving problems in developed systems such as that of the United States. This article describes the Central and Eastern European systems and compares them with the Latin American systems.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Asia and the Pacific, 2002
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 50 countries in Asia and the Pacific. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Europe, Africa, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
Social Security Programs Throughout the World: Europe, 2002
This report, which is part of a four-volume series, provides a cross-national comparison of the social security systems in 44 countries in Europe. It summarizes the five main social insurance programs in those countries: old-age, disability, and survivors; sickness and maternity; work injury; unemployment; and family allowances. The other regional volumes in the series focus on the social security systems of countries in Asia and the Pacific, Africa, and the Americas. Together, the reports provide important information for researchers and policymakers who are reviewing different ways of approaching social security challenges and adapting the systems to the evolving needs of individuals, households, and families.
Retirement Income Security in the United Kingdom
This study examines the United Kingdom's retirement income security system from the American perspective. It addresses issues that most concern U.S. analysts: how the United Kingdom has kept its future public pension costs at a manageable level, the extent to which privatization of public pensions has contributed to these savings, the popular appeal of individual pension accounts, and the impact of privatization on retirement income. These issues are best understood in the context of the U.K. pension program's particular institutional structure and policies, two of which—"contracting out" of public pensions and strong reliance on means-tested benefits—have been largely rejected in the evolution of U.S. policy to date.
Particular use is made of recently available data on coverage rates for public and private pension programs over the total working population and administrative records on inactive personal pension accounts.
State and Local
Social Security Beneficiaries Affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision in 2006
The Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) is a method of computing benefits for some workers who receive a pension based on non-Social Security covered work. At the end of 2006, about 970,000 beneficiaries, mainly retired workers, were affected by the WEP. This article provides a brief legislative history, describes the WEP computation, and presents statistical data about beneficiaries affected by the WEP.
Characteristics of Disabled-Worker Beneficiaries Receiving Workers' Compensation or Public Disability Benefits Compared With Disabled-Worker Beneficiaries Without These Additional Benefits
State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients, January 2006
This annual publication presents data on selected characteristics of mandatory and optional state assistance programs for SSI recipients. It focuses on eligibility provisions and the maximum levels of assistance for individuals and couples who receive supplementary payments.
State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients, January 2005
This annual publication presents data on selected characteristics of mandatory and optional state assistance programs for SSI recipients. It focuses on eligibility provisions and the maximum levels of assistance for individuals and couples who receive supplementary payments.
State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients, January 2004
This annual publication presents data on selected characteristics of mandatory and optional state assistance programs for SSI recipients. It focuses on eligibility provisions and the maximum levels of assistance for individuals and couples who receive supplementary payments.
State Assistance Programs for SSI Recipients, January 2002
This annual publication presents data on selected characteristics of mandatory and optional state assistance programs for SSI recipients. It focuses on eligibility provisions and the maximum levels of assistance for individuals and couples who receive supplementary payments.
State and Local Pension Plans' Equity Holdings and Returns
This article examines the recent trends in the size and performance of the equity investments of state and local pension plans. It also provides a context for the discussion about investing some portion of the Social Security trust fund reserves in private equities.
Social Security Programs in the United States
This publication presents a comprehensive picture of the vast network of programs under the Social Security Act and how they operate. The programs are grouped into four major areas: social insurance, health insurance and health services, assistance programs, and programs for specific groups (such as veterans, government employees, and railroad workers).
