Social Security Trust Fund The Trust Fund is the governments means of saving up for the expected increase in retirement in coming decades. The primary policy question is where to invest the fund, and whether to increase the total fund by adding money from the budget surplus. The Democratic plan is to have the federal government continue to control the investment (which implies investing in Treasury Bills, which means lending to the National Debt). The Republican plan is to have individually controlled retirement investment accounts (which implies investment in the Stock Market, Bond Market, and Money market) Alternative plans are to have government-controlled investments in the stock market or other private markets. Social Security retirement age Increasing the retirement age would increase the Social Security Trust Fund by delaying the age at which benefits could be received. Full retirement age had been 65 for many years. However, beginning with people born in 1938 or later, that age gradually increases. For those born in 1960 or afterwards... At age 62, retirees will get 70% of monthly benefits. At age 65, retirees will get 86.7% of monthly benefits. At age 67, retirees will get 100% (full retirement age for full benefits). Social Security Investment Due to the enormous amount of money involved, where and how the Trust Fund is invested will dramatically impact the economy. $1.0 trillion Total amount currently in the Trust Fund (2012) $3.0 trillion Estimated amount needed by peak year (2015) $0.5 trillion Expected new budget deficit (2013) $3.8 trillion Total amount of most recent federal budget (2013) $14.2 trillion Total amount of the federal National Debt (2011) $13.4 trillion Total market capitalization of the NYSE (2011) $0.6 trillion Total amount previously in the Trust Fund (1999) $3.0 trillion Estimated amount needed by peak year (2015) $2.9 trillion Expected total budget surplus for years 2000-2009 $1.8 trillion Total amount of most recent federal budget (2000) $5.6 trillion Total amount of the federal National Debt (1998) $11.6 trillion Total market capitalization of the NYSE (1999) ‘Lockbox’ The ‘Lockbox Bill’ aims to protect the future Social Security surplus by removing it from the control of federal budget makers. The vote in Congress was 416-12 in favor of the bill. It would require a ‘super-majority’ vote on any bill that would add to the budget deficit, which implies borrowing from the Social Security Trust Fund. IRAs and other Retirement Accounts Individual Retirement Accounts (IRAs) allow saving $2,000 per year tax-free, to be withdrawn beginning between ages 59 and 71. Keough Plans for self-employed people allow saving $30,000 per year tax-free, to be withdrawn beginning at age 59. Salary Reduction Simplified Employee Pension Plans (SAR SEPs), allow investing $6,000 per year tax-free in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or precious metals. 401(k) company-sponsored retirement plans allow investing $30,000 per year tax-free in any investment vehicle, including real estate and insurance. Medicare and Medicaid Medicare and Medicaid will become insolvent under current estimates by 2015 (1999 budget discussions may push that to 2025). There were 39 million Medicare beneficiaries in 1998; that number is expected to rise along with Social Security retirement figures. Senior Drug coverage is currently $24-$44 per month insurance premium to cover $1,000-$2,500 per year in drug costs. Medicare deductible on tax returns is currently $100 per year; also expected to rise in current negotiations. This section covers financial/budgetary issues about Medicare and Medicaid; also see our healthcare section. Social Security Buzzwords The biggest component of the Social Security debate is whether people should be allowed to privately invest their retirement money. Fully doing so has the effect of replacing the Social Security system with a federally-run retirement investment plan. Liberals and populists generally oppose privatization of Social Security. Look for buzzwords like risky to describe the stock market component, or maintain confidence in the Trust Fund to describe the federally-managed system. Moderate liberals and populists generally favor some components of privatization and pay lip-service to the concept of the stock market. Look for buzzwords like government investment in the stock market, which means maintaining complete federal control of Social Security while attempting to reap the greater profit of private investment. Conservatives and libertarians generally favor privatization. Look for buzzwords like personal choice or individual control of ones retirement account (to contrast the lack of individualization of the current Social Security system). Moderate conservatives and libertarians favor privatizing some components while maintaining federal control of the overall system. Look for terms like increase IRAs (individual retirement accounts in addition to Social Security accounts); or Remove the Earnings Test, which means allowing seniors to earn income without diminishing their Social Security payments. Moderates from both the right and left generally support Social Security reform which increase the value of the Trust Fund while still providing benefits to all citizens. Look for terms such as increase the retirement age, which would increase the Trust Fund by delaying the age at which benefits could be received. Some centrists from both the right and the left support reforms to better account for the Trust Fund, generally by taking it off-budget or putting it in a Lock Box. That refers to the accounting method for Social Security, which does not maintain a separate bottom-line for the Trust Fund but instead assigns its surplus or deficit to general treasury funds. Accounting separately for Social Security would disallow political machinations of the surplus and, in this view, would enhance the future long-term survival of Social Security. Click Amazon books on Social Security Social Security, Medicare & Government Pensions: Get the Most Out of Your Retirement & Medical Benefits Social Security: The Unfinished Work Privatizing Pensions
Posted on: Sat, 11 Oct 2014 02:23:49 +0000
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