The ongoing debates about the future of social insurance programs such as Social Security and Medicare raise questions about the public's knowledge of the history of social insurance and about the impact these programs have on millions of Americans. In general, public conversations about social policies in the U.S. tend to focus on whether or not…

This collection consists of papers presented at a 1982 conference on policy issues in work and retirement. Presented first is an introductory overview of the problems of retirement and aging by Herbert S. Parnes. The following conference reports are included in the volume: "Life without Work: Does It Make Sense?" by Eli Ginzberg;…

This first volume of three of the final report of the 1981 White House Conference on Aging contains the response to the congressional charge to the Conference that the final report propose a national policy on aging not only for the minority who need aid but also for the majority of older adults who live in comfort and security. The report is…

The 1981 White House Conference on Aging, particularly the 50 State Conferences on Aging, generated over 1,500 pages of data on aging, addressing over 3,000 issues. To summarize the information from the 16 Technical Committee reports, a conceptual framework was used which focused on the well being of older people in three dimensions - health,…

At this hearing on abolishing poverty among older Americans, 11 witnesses testified regarding the needs of elderly and disabled Americans. Of particular concern was the efficacy of Social Security and Supplemental Security Income as programs to reduce poverty and the special concerns of elderly blacks. Most witnesses spoke about the negative…