The hottest Social Security Substack posts right now

And their main takeaways
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Top U.S. Politics Topics

Social Security for 200-Year-Olds?

OpenTheBooks Substack • 272 implied HN points • 07 Jun 25
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Government Transparency Social Security Policy Fraud
  1. There are huge discrepancies in the numbers of old people listed in the Social Security database, creating confusion and concern. Some figures, like those stating millions are aged over 100 or even 200, seem unbelievable.
  2. Major efforts are being made to clean up the Social Security records, with millions of potentially obsolete numbers being removed. This process aims to prevent fraud and ensure accurate records.
  3. The Social Security Administration has been criticized for lacking transparency and not providing clear data about its beneficiaries. This makes it difficult for taxpayers to understand how funds are being managed.

The Heritage Foundation's Medicare and Social Security Blueprint

HEALTH CARE un-covered • 739 implied HN points • 04 Apr 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Healthcare policy Social Security Medicare Political Ideologies Legislative Process
  1. The Heritage Foundation is working to change Medicare into a system more like private insurance, which may not provide the same level of care for everyone. This shift could leave many seniors without sufficient support when they really need it.
  2. Currently, many people are choosing Medicare Advantage plans because they seem to offer great perks. However, these plans might limit their care options when serious health issues arise, potentially putting them in a difficult situation later on.
  3. If reforms are passed, Medicare and Social Security could become benefits available only to those in the greatest need. This would transform them from universal programs into something more like welfare, affecting millions of Americans.

How the national debt will play out

In My Tribe • 774 implied HN points • 21 Oct 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Debt crisis Government spending Political Conflict Fiscal policy Social Security
  1. Ignoring the national debt can lead to a sudden financial crisis. When people lose confidence, the government might face high interest rates quickly.
  2. Government spending is heavily tied to mandatory benefits like Social Security and Medicare, meaning cuts alone might not solve the debt issue. A lot of tax revenue will go just to paying interest on the debt.
  3. If a crisis happens, it could create intense political conflict over cuts to benefits, increased taxes, and how to handle debt. A balanced budget amendment could help avoid this but may be too late now.

Life on the Social Security Plantation

donaldjeffries • 1257 implied HN points • 27 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Security Medicare Healthcare Government
  1. Social Security and Medicare are seen as entitlements, but workers pay into these systems their entire working lives.
  2. There are ideological differences in views on Social Security, with conservatives aiming to end it and liberals revering it as sacrosanct.
  3. The current Social Security system faces criticism for its sustainability, lack of means testing, and income cap, highlighting the need for reform.

Are They Better Off?

News Items • 255 implied HN points • 21 Feb 23
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Security Policy Making Debt Ceiling Congress
  1. Key Census data may undercount the retirement income of older Americans by hundreds of billions of dollars a year.
  2. America needs to address the unsustainability of the Social Security program through benefit reductions, tax increases, or a combination of both.
  3. Recent data suggests that American retirees, on average, are wealthier than commonly believed, which may impact policy decisions regarding Social Security reform.
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Will "Efficiency" Fix the Budget?

The Last Bear Standing • 74 implied HN points • 15 Nov 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Federal Budget Government Efficiency Fiscal policy Social Security Healthcare
  1. The U.S. federal budget has big structural problems, like an aging population and increasing debt, making it hard to balance spending and revenue.
  2. Most of the budget goes to a few major areas like Social Security and healthcare, which are expected to grow, so simply cutting discretionary spending won't solve the deficit issue.
  3. Fixing these budget problems requires more than just efficiency cuts; it needs serious changes in laws and policies that are hard to achieve without widespread agreement.

The $175.3 Trillion Doomsday Clock Is Ticking – That Is The Estimated Unfunded Social Security And Medicare Liability

OpenTheBooks Substack • 170 implied HN points • 04 Mar 24
💰 Finance Government spending Social Security Medicare
  1. The estimated unfunded Social Security and Medicare liability is a staggering $175.3 trillion, which is a major financial crisis threatening the future.
  2. The funding gap for Social Security and Medicare over the next 75 years is projected to be $78.3 trillion, leading to potential options like increased borrowing, higher taxes, or reduced benefits.
  3. The $175.3 trillion gap is a result of a lack of significant reforms in recent decades, with the projection showing significant challenges with Medicare Part B, Social Security, and other programs in the future.

Links in Progress: All the single people

The Works in Progress Newsletter • 13 implied HN points • 17 Dec 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Demographics Population trends Social Security Cultural impact
  1. China's population is expected to drop by 51 million by 2035, which is a significant number.
  2. The US is experiencing a population decline in half of its counties mainly due to lower birth rates, not just people moving away.
  3. Increasing numbers of single people may be contributing to the global decline in birth rates.

Retirement

We're Gonna Get Those Bastards • 8 implied HN points • 27 Oct 24
💰 Finance Retirement Investing Personal Finance Social Security Economic Trends
  1. Having a plan for retirement is important to avoid boredom. Rather than just watching TV all day, think about activities you enjoy or new hobbies you want to pursue.
  2. Working longer can lead to better financial stability in retirement. Delaying Social Security benefits can significantly increase the amount you receive later on.
  3. To have a fulfilling retirement, it’s crucial to keep engaging with the world. Experiences and social interactions can provide inspiration for creative pursuits like writing.

March 1, 2024

Letters from an American • 10 implied HN points • 02 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Budget Taxation Social Security Corporate Government
  1. President Joe Biden signed a resolution giving lawmakers more time to finalize government funding bills, as Republicans have been stalling by inserting cultural demands and seeking budget cuts.
  2. There are discussions about creating a 'debt commission' to address the budget deficit, even though it faces opposition from 70% of voters.
  3. The ITEP report revealed that many profitable corporations paid very low effective tax rates due to loopholes, raising questions about the fairness of the tax system.

The One Weird Trick To Save Social Security!

JoeWrote • 1 implied HN point • 19 Mar 24
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Social Security Conservatism Taxation Retirement Government programs
  1. Conservatives argue for cutting Social Security due to changing worker-to-retiree ratios and financial strain.
  2. The simple solution to save Social Security is eliminating the taxable maximum income, ensuring long-term sustainability.
  3. Eliminating the taxable maximum could generate a surplus, benefitting the program and securing it for future generations.

Making Payroll

Matt’s Five Points • 0 implied HN points • 09 Dec 11
🇺🇸 U.S. Politics Tax policy Social Security Political Dynamics Legislation Economic Policy
  1. The payroll tax cut should stay focused on helping the American people, without getting mixed up in other political issues. If lawmakers complicate it too much, it might not go through.
  2. It’s surprising to see Democrats supporting payroll tax cuts now. In the past, they would have been concerned that it could hurt Social Security, but opinions seem to be changing.
  3. Bringing the payroll tax back to its old rates is unlikely because many people depend on it as their only federal tax. Raising it again could feel like a big burden for those who have the least.