8:30 AM REGISTRATION AND LIGHT BREAKFAST
9:00 AM WELCOME
- William Arnone, Chief Executive Officer, National Academy of Social Insurance
Part I: Social Security and Its Finances
9:10 AM SESSION 1: Why is Social Security Important and How Does It Work?
Why is Social Security relevant and important to younger generations? Who receives benefits? How important are Social Security benefits for the people who receive them? What is Social Security Disability Insurance?
- Kathleen Romig, Senior Policy Analyst, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
- TJ Sutcliffe, Senior Director, Income and Housing Policy, The Arc
- Lisa Ekman, Director of Government Affairs, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)
- Moderator: William Arnone, Chief Executive Officer, National Academy of Social Insurance
10:10 AM SESSION 2: Social Security’s Financing and Policy Options
Balancing contributions, adequacy, and solvency: How do we find a balance? How are Social Security benefits paid? What is the long-term outlook for Social Security’s finances? What policy options exist for achieving solvency and adequacy?
- Stephen C. Goss, Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration
- Karen Glenn, Deputy Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration
- Moderator: Jason Fichtner, Senior Lecturer of International Economics and Associate Director of the International Economics and Finance program, Johns Hopkins University School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS)
11:00 AM BREAK/NETWORKING
Part II: Policy Options
11:15 AM Explanation of discussion sessions
- Elliot Schreur, National Academy of Social Insurance
11:20 AM POLICY PROPOSITION #1: The retirement age
Raising the retirement age: What it does and whom it affects, including DI beneficiaries
Tiffany Bosley, Supervisory Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary
- Small Group Discussion
Proposition: Should we raise the retirement age?
- Debate on Proposition: For/against raising the retirement age
- Fact Checking and Summary
11:50 AM BREAK/LUNCH
12:30 PM POLICY PROPOSITION #2: Contribution structure
The Social Security contribution structure: What it is and how it works
Jason Schultz, Executive Officer and Supervisory Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary
- Small Group Discussion
Proposition: Should we eliminate the payroll tax cap?
- Debate on Proposition: For/against eliminating the payroll tax cap
- Fact Checking and Summary
1:00 PM BREAK/NETWORKING
1:15 PM POLICY PROPOSITION #3: Expanding benefits
Options to expand benefits for OASI and DI: What the options are and how they work
Daniel Nickerson, Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary
- Small Group Discussion
Proposition: Should we expand benefits? (may decide for which populations)
- Debate on Proposition: For/against expanding benefits
- Fact Checking and Summary
1:45 PM POLICY PROPOSITION #4: Cost of living adjustments
Cost of living adjustments: What they are, how they work, and whom they affect
Kyle Burkhalter, Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary
- Small Group Discussion
Proposition: Should we change Social Security’s cost of living adjustment to the CPI-E or to the chained CPI?
- Debate on Proposition: Change Social Security’s cost of living adjustment to the CPI-E versus changing to the chained CPI
- Fact Checking and Summary
2:15 PM BREAK/NETWORKING
2:30 PM PUTTING IT ALL TOGETHER: Creating Your Own Solution for Social Security Solvency and Adequacy
Which arguments did you find most persuasive? Which policy options would you choose to achieve solvency for Social Security’s finances and adequacy for beneficiaries?
- Explanation of exercise and policy options; Q&A
- Small group discussion
- Presentation and defense of policy packages
Moderator: Elliot Schreur, National Academy of Social Insurance
Part III: Applying Social Security Policy
4:00 PM Current Developments in Social Security Policy
- Earl R. Pomeroy, Co-Chair, SSDI Solutions Initiative, and Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
4:30 PM Wrap-Up and Door Prizes