Staying Fit
The National Academy of Social Insurance (NASI), in collaboration with AARP, has launched an innovation challenge to help identify policy solutions to strengthen Social Security.
Most Social Security beneficiaries rely on Social Security benefits as their main—or only— source of income in retirement. But under the current program structure, people who must claim their Social Security benefits early due to ill health, an inability to perform physically demanding jobs, or other issues, receive substantially reduced monthly benefits throughout their lifetimes, putting them at a high risk of falling into poverty.
To address this, NASI , in collaboration with AARP, launched a Social Security Policy Innovations Challenge open to applicants from across the country and from a variety of disciplines. The challenge seeks to identify much-needed solutions for these older workers. Applicants are invited to submit policy ideas that are innovative, feasible, and have the potential to improve economic security for workers with limited employment opportunities who lack the financial security to postpone claiming Social Security benefits until they reach full retirement age. Three to five winning proposals will be selected and will each receive an award of $20,000—$25,000.
“We believe that good ideas that have undergone rigorous factual analysis can drive better policymaking,” said AARP Chief Public Policy Officer Debra Whitman. “This Challenge serves as an opportunity to foster the kinds of innovative ideas that will challenge outdated beliefs and make this vital program stronger for future generations. We are excited to collaborate with the National Academy of Social Insurance and its membership of experts to discover new ways to protect vulnerable workers and retirees.”
This Innovation Challenge builds on the work of AARP’s 2016 Innovation Challenge, which also sought ideas to strengthen Social Security.
For more information:
2018 Social Security Policy Innovations Challenge: Ensuring Adequacy for Workers
2016 Policy Innovation Challenge: Social Security Adequacy and Solvency
Executive Summary of Innovations (PDF)
Watch! New Approaches to Social Security (video)
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