Social Security : Benefits, Changes and Proposals

Security provides monthly benefits to retired or disabled workers and their family members, and to the family members of deceased workers. The Social Security full retirement age (FRA) is the age at which workers can first claim full Social Security retired-worker benefits. Workers can claim reduced retirements benefits as early as age 62. The CRS reports included in this book provide an overview of Social Security financing and benefits under current law. It also covers how the Social Security program is financed and how the Social Security trust funds work. A brief overview of the concept of life expectancy, how it is measured, and how it has changed over time in the US is examined, in particular, recent research on 1. The life expectancy gap by income and 2. The relationship between this gap and Social Security benefits. The final report addresses a number of frequently asked questions regarding the eligibility of same-sex couples for Social Security benefits and the interpretation of state marriage laws.