Issue Briefs

Although most of the debate over Social Security has focused on retirement benefits, the program also pays disability and survivor benefits as well. According to this EBRI study, retirement benefits would have to be cut substantially or taxes increased if federal policymakers agreed to protect disability payments as part of any overhaul of Social Security,if disability benefits are to be preserved at the level provided in current law—as many policymakers say they should. Press release.

EBRI Notes Jul 13, 2005 20 pages

which finds that while the uninsured population of the United States is still dominated by native-born Americans, it is becoming increasingly comprised of immigrants, and the trend appears to be accelerating. Also included in this issue is a fact sheet on "The Basics of Medicare." Press Release EBRI Notes Jun 1, 2005 16 pages

which presents a detailed examination of a unique community-based initiative to expand health care coverage to uninsured workers at small firms in Muskegon, Mich. EBRI Issue Brief Jun 1, 2005 32 pages

which seeks to provide answers to how the public will be affected by fundamentally different approaches to Social Security reform. This analysis compares "Model 2" individual accounts from the 2001 President's Commission to Strengthen Social Security (the closest detailed proposal to what President Bush has endorsed) with three basic options: Raising taxes, imposing sharp ("cliff") benefit cuts, and gradually reducing benefits. EBRI Issue Brief May 1, 2005 32 pages

EBRI Issue Brief Apr 1, 2005 32 pages

EBRI Issue Brief Mar 1, 2005 20 pages

EBRI Issue Brief Feb 1, 2005 20 pages

EBRI Notes Feb 1, 2005 20 pages

EBRI Issue Brief Jan 1, 2005 36 pages

EBRI Notes Dec 1, 2004 8 pages