Alicia Munnell: Biden’s Social Security Tax Hike Plan Falls Short

Link: https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2021/03/19/alicia-munnell-bidens-social-security-plan-falls-short/

Excerpt:

THINKADVISOR: What’s your take on President Biden’s proposal for fixing Social Security?

ALICIA MUNNELL: A step in the right direction. Good ideas but incomplete. There’s nothing wrong with it. It’s just not complete. He wants to have a few benefit enhancements and to increase taxes for people earning over $400,000. But I don’t think his numbers close the full 75-year Social Security [system] shortfall.

Author(s): Jane Wollman Rusoff

Publication Date: 19 March 2021

Publication Site: Think Advisor

How Biden’s ‘Donut Hole’ Plan Could Undermine Social Security

Link: https://www.thinkadvisor.com/2021/02/17/how-bidens-donut-hole-plan-could-undermine-social-security/

Excerpt:

But Richard Johnson, director of the Urban Institute’s Program on Retirement Policy, argues that he has a better idea — one that would generate more tax revenue for Social Security benefits without creating a donut hole, he tells ThinkAdvisor in an interview.

“Increase the $142,800 tax max to something like $250,000 today and continue to raise it [based on] average earnings growth,” he recommends.

Part of Johnson’s reasoning is rooted in the presumption that if Social Security were to be perceived as only for low-income earners, political support for the crucial program would be diminished.

Author(s): Jane Wollman Rusoff

Publication Date:

Publication Site: Think Advisor