Social Security

Financial sustainability and other topics related to the Social Security program.




Try your hand at the Social Security Challenge

According to the Social Security trustees, Social Security’s combined trust fund reserves are projected to become depleted in 2034, potentially leading to a forced 20+ percent cut in payable benefits unless legislative changes are adopted to prevent it. What might those changes look like? How would you address the solvency issue?

Take the Challenge: In the Academy’s Social Security Challenge, develop your own personal reform approach by traveling through a virtual town where you’ll learn residents’ different views on reform ideas and information about their impacts, and puzzle through choices.

Social Security

Social Security Resources

Policy Paper

An Actuarial Perspective on the 2025 Social Security Trustees Report

The Social Security Committee released a policy paper, An Actuarial Perspective on the 2025 Social Security Trustees Report. This detailed paper provides perspective on the latest detailed annual…
Date Published: 12/04/2025
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Policy Paper

Public Sector Workers Not Covered by Social Security

A new policy paper, Public Sector Workers Not Covered by Social Security: Implications for Their Retirement Security, examines how public sector entities seeking exemption from Social Security must…
Topics: Retirement
Date Published: 09/16/2025
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Policy Paper

Retirement and Gig Workers

Retirement security issues surrounding gig workers are significant and complex, with limited data regarding them, what programs are accessible to them, and how well they take advantage of available…
Date Published: 09/10/2025
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Policy Paper

Issue Paper—Immigration and Social Security

The Social Security Committee has released a public policy issue paper, Immigration and Social Security. Immigration is a crucial component to the trajectory of the financial condition of the…
Date Published: 09/10/2024
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Policy Paper

Committee Releases One-pager on 2024 Social Security Trustees Report

The Social Security Committee released Highlights from the 2024 Social Security Trustees Report, a one-page illustration detailing the latest annual report on the current and projected financial…
Topics: Social Security
Date Published: 05/09/2024
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Policy Paper

Committee Releases Issue Paper on Social Security and Financially Disadvantaged Groups

The Social Security Committee released an issue paper, Social Security and Financially Disadvantaged Groups, focusing on how benefits received by different groups are shaped by features of the…
Date Published: 11/10/2023
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Policy Paper

Essential Elements: Securing Social Security

The Academy’s Essential Elements paper, Securing Social Security, updates figures and information on the financial outlook of Social Security following the release of the 2021 Social Security…
Date Published: 09/02/2021
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Policy Paper

Social Security Reform Options

A public policy monograph that analyzes proposals to address Social Security’s financial challenges.
Date Published: 03/03/2014
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Policy Paper

Essential Elements: Raising Social Security’s Retirement Age

emy policy paper on the benefits of raising Social Security’s retirement age to help solve the program’s long-term financial problems
Date Published: 02/26/2014
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Issue Brief

A Guide to Analyzing Social Security Reform

Issue guide on Social Security to help evaluate Social Security reform proposals.
Topics: Social Security
Date Published: 12/17/2012
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