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  • Social Security
    • What is Social Security?
    • VIDEO: Social Security: Americans Agree
    • Who Pays for Social Security?
    • Who Gets Social Security?
    • What is the Social Security Retirement Age?
    • How Do Benefits Compare to Earnings?
    • The Role of Benefits in Income and Poverty
    • Where Do Social Security Taxes Go?
    • Social Security's Future Finances
    • Public Opinions on Social Security
    • How Will Boomers Affect Social Security?
    • Social Security as a Share of the Economy
    • Options to Balance Social Security Finances
    • Proposals for Private Accounts
    • Children's Stake in Social Security
    • Social Security and People of Color
    • Women's Stake in Social Security
    • Social Security, Marriage, and Divorce
    • Social Security for Widowed Spouses in Retirement
    • What is Social Security Disability Insurance?
    • Key Dates in the History of Social Security
    • VIDEO: Social Security: Just the Facts
    • About the Social Security Section of this Sourcebook
  • Medicare
  • Medicare and Medicaid at 50
  • Workers' Compensation and Disability
  • Unemployment Insurance
  • Long-Term Services and Supports

Learn About Social Insurance

  • Social Security
  • Medicare
  • Workers' Compensation & Disability
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  • About This Sourcebook

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Social Security: Americans Agree VIDEO


Have you seen “Social Security: Americans Agree?” Click here to learn more.

Social Security: Just the Facts Video


Have you seen, “Social Security: Just the Facts?” Click here to learn more.

COVERED: a week-by-week look at the political and legislative developments that led to the creation of Medicare and Medicaid 50 years ago. Bob Rosenblatt, Academy senior fellow and former Los Angeles Times Washington correspondent will report on the people and the maneuvers that led to this major expansion of social insurance.

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Social Security

Social Security is the cornerstone of retirement security for American workers and their families.

For more detailed factual background on the Social Security program—including its benefits, financing, and policy options—please see the Academy's recently updated learning tool, Social Security Benefits, Finances, and Policy Options: A Primer.


  • What is Social Security?
  • VIDEO: Social Security: Americans Agree
  • Who Pays for Social Security?
  • Who Gets Social Security?
  • What is the Social Security Retirement Age?
  • How Do Benefits Compare to Earnings?
  • The Role of Benefits in Income and Poverty
  • Where Do Social Security Taxes Go?
  • Social Security's Future Finances
  • Public Opinions on Social Security
  • How Will Boomers Affect Social Security?
  • Social Security as a Share of the Economy
  • Options to Balance Social Security Finances
  • Proposals for Private Accounts
  • Children's Stake in Social Security
  • Social Security and People of Color
  • Women's Stake in Social Security
  • Social Security, Marriage, and Divorce
  • Social Security for Widowed Spouses in Retirement
  • What is Social Security Disability Insurance?
  • Key Dates in the History of Social Security
  • VIDEO: Social Security: Just the Facts
  • About the Social Security Section of this Sourcebook
What is Social Security? »
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