Henry Aaron, Senior Fellow, The Brookings Institution Henry Aaron agreed that the menu of recommendations by the Board s panels is comprehensive and well conceived. However, he noted that it is more than SSA can handle, given SSA s current capabilities. He said that building the research capacity of ORES merits top priority. The determinants of retirement. But unless we have a better idea about policies that are likely to work, we cannot begin to have a serious policy discussion and consider which of these policies might have political appeal.
Widows comprise the economically most disadvantaged group among the elderly.
It is worth investigating what sorts of actions cause that outcome. Look at age-specific disability rates by age cohort. It is pure number crunching and could easily be done internally. Frederick B. Arner, Consultant Former Staff for Disability Issues, Committee on Ways and Means Frederick Arner recommended increasing research on the administration of the disability program and improving and making more available statistics relating to the program. He said that an improved understanding of how the disability program is administered will provide better information on the true nature of program.