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Older Americans and the Recession
PPI’s Economics Team analyzes the impact of the current recession on older workers and retirees.
Work Disability and Early Retirement
Four papers examine the characteristics of early retirees and people with work disabilities and policy options that could improve their health and financial security.
In November 2009, nearly 2.1 million persons aged 55 and over were officially unemployed, that is, they were without jobs but looking for work. This figure, up from 843,000 at the start of the recession, translated into an unemployment rate of 7.1 percent. Average duration of unemployment had risen to 36 weeks for the aged 55+ unemployed, over half of whom had been out of work for 27 or more weeks.
Social Security
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What Happened to My Social Security COLA?
Dealing with the Impact on Beneficiaries and Budgets During a Period Without COLAs
September 18, 2009
Source: AARP.org
Social Security Disability Insurance: A Primer
Social Security Disability Insurance provides protection against a key source of economic insecurity—the loss of earnings due to disability. Today, 9.3 million Americans rely on SSDI to replace lost wages. This primer provides an overview of SSDI, including who is covered, what benefits they receive, how the program is administered, and how it is financed.
July 23, 2009
By: Ellen O'Brien, AARP Public Policy Institute
Social Security: Ten Facts that Matter
This AARP Public Policy Institute Fact Sheet by Selena Caldera discusses ten important facts about Social Security, highlighting the program’s long-term solvency problem and the critical role it plays in securing the income of many Americans. (6 pages)
April 30, 2009
By: Selena Caldera, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
In Brief: Employment Support for the Transition to Retirement: Can a New Program Help Older Workers Work Longer and Protect Those Who Cannot?
In this brief synopsis of an AARP Public Policy Institute report with the same title, David Stapleton of Mathematica Policy Research, Inc., proposes a program to encourage later retirement by helping older workers increase their earnings and postpone reliance on their retirement benefits until the benefits are larger. (2 pages)
April 15, 2009
By: David C. Stapleton, Ph.D., Center for Studying Disability Policy, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; Center for Studying Disability Policy, Mathematica Policy Research, Inc.
In Brief: Raising the Retirement Age Would Impact the Most Vulnerable
This brief synopsis of an AARP Public Policy Institute Research Paper by Xiaoyan Li, Michael Hurd, and David S. Loughran of the RAND Corporation examines who might be adversely affected if the age of early eligibility for Social Security retirement benefits, currently 62, is increased. (2 pages)
March 31, 2009
By: Xiaoyan Li, RAND; Michael Hurd, RAND; David S. Loughran, RAND | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; RAND
In Brief: Social Security Financing: Automatic Adjustments to Restore Solvency
A growing number of countries are adopting automatic mechanisms to improve social security solvency, rather than changing taxes or benefits in an ad hoc manner. This brief synopsis of a paper by John Turner of the Pension Policy Center highlights the experience of 12 countries that have adopted auto-stabilization mechanisms. (2 pages)
February 24, 2009
By: John A. Turner, Pension Policy Center | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; Pension Policy Center
Social Security Financing: Automatic Adjustments to Restore Solvency
Many countries are facing social security solvency problems as longevity increases and birthrates fall. A growing number are adopting automatic mechanisms to improve solvency, rather than changing taxes or benefits in an ad hoc manner. In this paper, John Turner discusses the experience of 12 countries that have adopted auto-stabilization mechanisms. (32 pages)
February 24, 2009
By: John A. Turner, Pension Policy Center | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; Pension Policy Center
The Characteristics of Social Security Beneficiaries Who Claim Benefits at the Early Entitlement Age
This PPI Research Paper by Xiaoyan Li, Michael Hurd, and David S. Loughran of the RAND Corporation analyzes the characteristics of workers who take early Social Security retirement benefits. Its objective is to determine who might be adversely affected if the age of early eligibility for benefits, currently 62, is increased. (59 pages)
November 7, 2008
By: Xiaoyan Li, RAND; Michael Hurd, RAND; David S. Loughran, RAND | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute; RAND
Reform Options for Social Security
The most prominent options for improving Social Security’s financial picture are described in this Insight on the Issues, by Alison Shelton of AARP’s Public Policy Institute. The pros and cons of 14 reform options are reviewed, along with estimates of the impact of each option on Social Security’s financial status. (9 pages)
April 3, 2008
By: Alison Shelton, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Social Security: Basic Data
How does Social Security affect the incomes of age 65+ Americans? In this AARP Public Policy Institute Data Digest, Alison Shelton identifies recipients of Social Security benefits by beneficiary status, gender and ethnicity. The report tells how much beneficiaries receive, describes how Social Security is financed, and explains its financial status. (2 pages)
June 30, 2007
By: Alison Shelton, AARP Public Policy Institute | Source: AARP Public Policy Institute
Solutions Forums
Saving Jobs in A Recession: How Work Sharing Can Help
Seventeen states have programs that use unemployment funds to keep workers on the job with reduced hours. Learn how federal and state policy can better promote these work-sharing programs--and how several European nations have implemented work-sharing.
The Auto IRA: Strategies for Successful Implementation
Experts from the US and abroad discussed how an Auto-IRA can improve retirement security; lessons from similar programs in New Zealand and the UK; and how the Auto-IRA can work well for workers, small business and the financial industry.
Protecting Your Home, Car and Investment Savings: How to Stop Financial Fraud
How fraud impacts financial security, especially for older Americans—and discussion of policy options for combating mortgage, auto sales and investment scams. Luncheon speaker SEC Chairman Mary Schapiro discussed the Commission’s priorities on financial fraud.
Getting it Right: Smart Housing and Transportation Planning for Livable Communities
This forum featured release of new research on preserving subsidized housing near transit and discussion of how to coordinate housing, transportation and land use policy to develop livable communities.
What Happened to My Social Security COLA?
Why no COLA is expected for 2010 and how this affects individuals and the states. Panelists include experts from the Social Security Administration, AARP, the National Governors Association and the Kaiser Family Foundation.
A New Look at Making Financial Decisions for Retirement
PPI released a series of new reports offering a fresh look at financial decisions related to retirement. Experts examined why many people make poor choices and explore how to improve the options available to retirees.
Fixing Chronic Care in America
National experts discussed problems facing millions of Americans with multiple chronic conditions, and explored potential solutions highlighted in a new PPI publication, Chronic Care: a Call to Action for Health Reform and in a new video Faces of Chronic Care.
AARP Public Policies
Learn about the policy development process at AARP. For a complete guide to AARP's positions on public issues, see The Policy Book, AARP Public Policies 2009-2010.
Center to Champion Nursing in America
The Center to Champion Nursing in America seeks to ensure Americans have the highly skilled nurses we need to provide affordable, quality health care. The Center serves as a consumer-driven, national force to increase the nation’s capacity to educate and retain nurses.
