Demystifying Social Security: 2019 Summer Academy for Interns and Young Professionals

Tuesday, August 13, 2019
8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. 

National Academy of Social Insurance, 5^th Floor Conference Room
1200 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC (near Dupont Circle and Foggy Bottom metro stations) 

The National Academy of Social Insurance hosted a free, day-long seminar on Social Security Adequacy and Equity. Attendees left the event with a better understanding of Social Security's structure and financing; how income, wealth, and longevity disparities among beneficiaries affect adequacy of benefits; and the program's relevance to younger generations. 

Agenda

8:30 a.m. Registration and Light Breakfast

9:00 a.m. Welcome

• William Arnone, Chief Executive Officer, National Academy of Social Insurance

Part I: Charting a Path Forward for Social Security within an Equity Framework

9:10 a.m. Panel 1: Why is Social Security Important, How Does it Work, and What are the Major Concerns Regarding Equity/Adequacy?

• Marc Goldwein, Senior Vice President, Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget
• Kilolo Kijakazi, Senior Fellow, Urban Institute
• Kathleen Romig, Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
• Moderator: Elaine Weiss, Lead Policy Analyst for Income Security, National Academy of Social Insurance

10:10 a.m. Panel 2: Social Security's Financing and (Existing and Evolving) Policy Options

• Karen Glenn, Deputy Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration
• Abigail Zapote, Executive Director, Latinos for a Secure Retirement
• Moderator: Jason Fichtner, Senior Lecturer of International Economics, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)

11:00 a.m. Break/Networking

Part II: Policy Options

11:20 a.m. Policy Proposition #1: The Retirement Age 

• Chris Chaplain, Supervisory Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary

12:00 p.m. Policy Proposition #2: Contribution Structure

• Jason Schultz, Executive Officer and Supervisory Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary

12:30 p.m. Lunch break/Networking

1:15 p.m. Policy Proposition #3: Expanding Benefits

• Daniel Nickerson, Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary

1:45 p.m. Policy Proposition #4: Cost of Living Adjustments

• Kyle Burkhalter, Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary

2:14 p.m.            Break/Networking

2:30 p.m.            Putting it all Together: Creating Your Own Solution for Social Security Solvency and Adequacy

Part III: Applying Social Security Policy

4:00 p.m.           Current Developments in Social Security Policy

• The Honorable Earl Pomeroy, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (North Dakota); Senior Counsel, Alston & Bird

4:30 p.m.           Wrap-up and door prizes