1981 National Commission
The National Commission on Social Security was created by Congress
in December 1977 and was instructed to undertake a "fundamental,
long-term, comprehensive consideration for change in the entire Social
Security system." This was the first time that a Commission composed
entirely of private citizens has been chartered by Congress to do such
a study. The nine-member bipartisan Commission issued its final reportin
March 1981. Its fundamental finding was "the Commission concludes
that the Social Security system is sound in principle and, of all alternatives,
is the best structure of income support for the United States."
Unlike the Greenspan Commission, whose Report in 1983 would lead directly
and almost immediately to major legislative change, the 1981 Commission's
work had little immediate impact. However, the Report is notable for the
comprehensive scope of its analysis of the Social Security program. Many
of the Report's recommendations would in fact eventually find their way
into law and public policy and others are still the focus of active debate
to this day. Although its direct influence was limited, the 1981 Report
serves as an excellent road-map to the major public policy issues confronting
Social Security in the closing decades of the 20th century.
CONTENTS
(Note: All material in Adobe PDF format)
Covers
Cover Letter & Table
of Contents
Chapter 1: Overview-
1
Chapter 2: Summary
of Major Recommendations- 21
Chapter 3: Alternatives
to Social Security- 35
Chapter 4: Financing
Social Security & Medicare- 52
Chapter 5: Retirement
Age- 120
Chapter 6: Retirement
Earnings Test- 140
Chapter 7: Social Security
Benefit Structure- 153
Chapter 8: Coverage
of Social Security- 168
Chapter 9: Disability
Programs- 193
Chapter 10: Social
Security Appeals- 217
Chapter 11: Women
and Social Security- 225
Chapter 12: Supplemental
Security Income- 245
Chapter 13: Medicare
and Medicaid- 257
Chapter 14: Administration
of the Social Security Programs- 299
Chapter 15: Consumer
Price Index for the Elderly- 313
Chapter 16: Other
Recommendations for Changes in Social Security- 322
Chapter 17: Costs
of the Commission's Recommendations- 328
Chapter 18: Dissenting
and Supplementary Statements- 330
Chapter 19: Glossary-
365
Chapter 20: Appendices
Appendix A: Summary of Hart Survey- 375
Appendix B: Common Misconceptions- 380
Appendix C: Rodgers' Retirement Age Proposal- 391
Appendix D: Gender-Based Distinctions- 413