United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2003-04-23 monographic deposited born digital 76 p. GA 1.13:GAO-03-387 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-387 P0b002ee18039d88a f:d03387 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-387 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-387 GAO-03-387 Federal social security programs Minorities Social security benefits Social security taxes Comparative analysis Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Program Other Written Product A06707 Although Social Security's benefit and contribution provisions are neutral with respect to race, ethnicity, and gender, concerns about the experiences of minority groups under Social Security focus on whether they benefit less than whites, particularly because of the shorter life expectancy of blacks. These concerns are related to the concept of equity, or how benefits compare with taxes. To gain a thorough understanding of the experiences of minority populations under Social Security, GAO was asked to examine (1) what socioeconomic and demographic factors influence Social Security taxes paid and benefits received and (2) how different equity measures compare across racial groups. Because of the current system's projected actuarial deficit, to conduct this study, GAO made its calculations using three policy scenarios, each of which achieves 75-year solvency: a payroll tax increase and a progressive and proportional benefit cut. Further, GAO used three measures of equity: lifetime benefit-to-tax ratios, net lifetime benefits, and real internal rates of return. GAO also examined four birth cohorts: 1931-40, 1941-45, 1946-55, and 1956-64. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-387/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-387.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-387/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-387.pdf GAO-03-387 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-03-387 Other Written Product GAO-03-387; Social Security and Minorities: Earnings, Disability Incidence, and Mortality Are Key Factors That Influence Taxes Paid and Benefits Received; Federal social security programs Minorities Social security benefits Social security taxes Comparative analysis Old Age Survivors and Disability Insurance Program