National Dialogue Survey
Options for Reform


Welcome to the third survey of the National Dialogue on Social Security. Its purpose is to learn more about participants' views on options for reform of the Social Security system.

The requested demographic information will be used for statistical purposes only. Persons who have already registered for the National Dialogue need only enter the E-mail address they used when registering. If you have not yet registered for the National Dialogue, please complete all the requested fields. Thank you for completing the survey.


  Last Name:

  First Name:

  E-Mail*:

  State:
  Zip:

  Gender:
  Age:

  Ethnicity:
  Education:

  Employment:
  Income:

Currently payroll taxes that workers pay goes to the Social Security trust fund.

1. Should individual workers be allowed to keep some of that money and place it in personal retirement accounts containing stocks and bonds?

Yes
No
Need more information
2. Should the government be in charge of investing some of the Social Security tax surplus in stocks and bonds?
Yes
No
Need more information
3. Security benefits increase every year to keep pace with the cost of living. Some people believe this overstates the amount of inflation and the increase should be slowed down. This could extend the life of the Social Security system, but would mean a reduction in the size of benefits paid to individuals. Do you favor this option?
Yes
No
Need more information
4. Affluence testing means reducing benefits for those whose total retirement from Social Security and all other income sources exceeds $45,000 per year. Should benefits be reduced for those people whose retirement income is greater than $45,000?
Yes
No
Need more information
5. Currently both employers and workers each pay 6.2 on wages for employees up to $72,600 annual earnings. Should the tax rate be increased?
For workers?
Yes
No
Undecided
For employers?
Yes
No
Undecided
For both:
Yes
No
Undecided
6. The wage base on which taxes are levied is $72,600 should this be increased?
Yes
No
Need more information
7. Currently full retirement benefits are available at age 65 this is scheduled to go to age 67. Should it be increased beyond 67?
Yes
No
Need more information
8. Currently a portion of Social Security benefits may be subject to income tax depending on a person's overall annual income. Private pensions are fully taxable. Should all Social Security benefits be taxable like private pensions?
Yes
No
Need more information
9. Social Security pays retirement benefits to spouses of retired workers. And it pays survivors' benefits to the widows and widowers of workers who have died. Should the retirement benefit for spouses be reduced and the survivors' benefit be increased for widows and widowers? [one helps finance the other]
Yes
No
Need more information
10. If you have any other suggestions for additional changes to Social Security please include them below:
     


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