8:30am   REGISTRATION AND LIGHT BREAKFAST

9:00am   WELCOME:

  • William Arnone, National Academy of Social Insurance

9:10am  SESSION I: 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?

  • Maya RockeymoorePresident and CEO, Global Policy Solutions
  • Lisa Ekman, Director of Goverment Affairs, National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ Representatives (NOSSCR)
  • Jaia Peterson Lent, Deputy Executive Director, Generations United
  • Moderator: Benjamin Veghte, Vice President for Policy, National Academy of Social Insurance

10:15am  SESSION II: 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: Shai Akabas, Director of Fiscal Policy, Bipartisan Policy Center

11:00am   BREAK/NETWORKING

11:15am   POLICY PROPOSITION #1: The retirement age

  • Raising the retirement age: What it does and whom it affects
    Chris Chaplain, Supervisory Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration
  • Small Group Debate Prep. Proposition: Should we raise the retirement age?
  • Debate on Proposition: For/against raising the retirement age
  • Fact Checking and Summary

12:00pm   LUNCH BREAK

12:30pm   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, Social Security Administration
  • Small Group Debate Prep. Proposition: Should we eliminate the payroll tax cap?
  • Debate on Proposition: For/against eliminating the payroll tax cap
  • Fact Checking and Summary

1:15pm   BREAK/NETWORKING

1:30pm   POLICY PROPOSITION #3: Expanding benefits

  • Options to expand benefits: What they are and how they work
    Daniel Nickerson, Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration
  • Small Group Debate Prep. Proposition: Should we expand benefits? (may decide for whom or which subpopulations)
  • Debate on Proposition: For/against expanding benefits
  • Fact Checking and Summary

2:15pm   POLICY PROPOSITION #4: Cost of living adjustments

  • Cost of living adjustments: What they are and how they work
    Kyle Burkhalter, Actuary, Office of the Chief Actuary, Social Security Administration
  • Small Group Debate Prep. Proposition: Should we change Social Security’s cost of living adjustment?
  • Debate on Proposition: For/against changing Social Security’s cost of living adjustment
  • Fact Checking and Summary

3:00pm   BREAK/NETWORKING

3:15pm   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 
  • Moderated by Elliot Schreur, National Academy of Social Insurance

4:30pm   WRAP-UP AND DOOR PRIZES