Members of Congress have been covered by Social Security since 1984.

28.2 Is Social Security Year 2000 compliant? If not, what is being done to ensure that people's accounts will not be lost or altered?

Yes, the Social Security program is Year 2000 compliant.

28.3 Why does the Social Security Administration invest so little in educating SSI/SSDI beneficiaries about the Work Incentives so they can reduce dependency on the system?

The Social Security Administration does make great efforts to do this, within the availability of funds for administrative expenses.

28.4 Who is going to represent the results of ADSS to the Congress?

ADSS will be sending the results to Congress.

28 5. Do our elected officials pay into Social Security?

Yes, since 1984.

28.6 What is being done to examine the infrastructure of the Social Security Administration to reduce costs? Are any goals set to improve the internal processes, which would deliver long-term savings back into the system?

Social Security administrative costs are slightly less then 1% of total costs, a lower administrative cost than almost any other public or private program. Social Security Administration has reduced its workforce by 15,000 employees in recent years and plans further reductions in the next 2-3 years. It is in the midst of a major technology enhancement designed to further increase efficiencies. There are many experts who question whether Social Security Administration has reduced its administrative costs and staffing levels too much.

28.7 How were people selected to attend this the ADSS events?

Citizens were chosen demographically by age, income, gender, and ethnicity. ADSS looked at the demographic breakdown of each city and used census bureau data to target each participant.

28.8 Are congressional salaries subject to FICA-if not, why not?

They have been since 1984.

28.9 How can this be bipartisan if the President has a certain minimum requirement before he is willing to participate in the discussion?

A factual answer cannot be given.

28.10 What has been the surplus that the Social Security program has had in the past, and why aren't we learning from past mistakes?

The cumulative excess of income over outgo as of the end of 1997 was $656 billion. Changes in the law have been made from time to time to recognize past "mistakes" or "weaknesses".

28.11 How much waste and fraud has been identified in the Social Security system?

Relatively little, mostly in the areas of disability benefits and payment of benefits to prisoners. As fraud is discovered, steps are taken to remedy the situation.

28.12 Are the demographics of the future workers based on the fertility rates?

Yes, they are based on both past and estimated future fertility rates, as well as on mortality and immigration rates.

28.13 Why not allow retirees a charitable credit in the income tax for refusing Social Security payments?

This could be done, but it would have the effect of increasing the general cost of operating the government (by reducing income).

28.14 How will welfare reform impact the future of Social Security?

Very little, if at all.

28.15 Why are heat for homes, food, electricity, and real estate costs left out of the new CPI?

Such is not the case.

28.16 Why should we believe that the government can correct something that it has totally mismanaged to date?

The program has not been "totally mismanaged" in the past. Administrative expenses are very low (slightly less than 10% of contribution income). About 45 million benefit payments go out each month, on time and accurately in almost all cases.

28.17 How much does "death of the middle class" have to do with less money going into the system (as middle income jobs go to overseas companies)?

This trend is greatly over-exaggerated. The payroll-tax income of the program continues to grow significantly.