The Future of Social Security for Vulnerable Retirees

media release: Without congressional action, Social Security’s primary trust fund could run short by 2032. This would trigger automatic, across-the-board benefit cuts for tens of millions of retired U. S. Americans who rely on social security payments. While much discussion of Social Security focuses on political implications and government budget numbers, we rarely hear about what this means for middle- and low-income earners, especially for those seniors who rely on every dollar to get by.

This webinar convenes experts to assess and discuss research-based perspectives on possible benefit changes. We’ll cover how the trust fund works, what an impending shortfall would mean for those retirees most reliant on a monthly social security check, and how potential cuts could impact the financial stability and poverty rates of vulnerable seniors.

Presenters:

Kathryn Anne Edwards, Labor Economist, Policy Consultant, and Co-Founder of Optimist Economy

Anita Mukherjee, Associate Professor, Risk and Insurance, Wisconsin School of Business, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Anil Kumar Professor and Henry B. Tippie Research Fellow, Department of Economics, University of Iowa