Deck 7: Aging: Social Security As an Entitlement

Question 1

Due to the Social Security Act exclusion of farm laborers and domestic servants,what percentage of the African American population was excluded from receiving benefits?

A)More than 90%
B)One in four
C)Half
D)Nearly all

Answer 1

Nearly all

Question 2

Assisting people based on their actual needs is referred to as:

A)Social equity
B)Social security
C)Social insurance
D)Social adequacy

Answer 2

C

Question 3

The initial Social Security Act included a disability insurance program.

Answer 3

False

Question 4

While Social Security has provided a safety net of sorts for millions of people,there are still many groups who are inadequately served by this program.Select one of these groups and describe the problems they face with reference to the Social Security system and the benefits they receive.How might the current system be modified to address the specific issues faced by this group?

Question 5

In 2012 American Airlines approached the biggest pension default in U.S.history.It was _______ short of meeting pension obligations.

A)8 billion
B)1 billion
C)18 billion
D)500 million

Question 6

About _________ of Medicaid's money goes to the last two years of its recipients' lives

A)one fourth
B)one third
C)one tenth
D)one fifth

Question 7

Social Security is a valid program that helps a broad range of people;however,there are still inequities in the system and some groups remain underserved.

Question 8

In 1956,social insurance was extended to workers:

A)under the age of 55.
B)with permanent disability aged fifty and older.
C)widowed mothers
D)None of the above.

Question 9

Many employees receive pension plans through their employers.This standard benefit is:

A)Being rolled over into social security private accounts.
B)A federal requirement for all corporate firms with over 100 employees.
C)Being rapidly phased out of many of companies.
D)None of the above.

Question 10

What groups were excluded from Title II of the original Social Security Act of 1935?

A)No one was excluded
B)Domestic servants and farm laborers
C)Those who already had pensions in place
D)Government employees,clergy,stock brokers

Question 11

Prior to 1935 elderly people who could no longer work received income from:

A)Social Security
B)Help from family
C)Their savings
D)Both b and c

Question 12

Social Security crisis that occurred in the 1980's was generated when:

A)Deficit spending occurred because incoming tax revenues were not enough to cover the required benefit payments.
B)Benefit payments threatened to exceed the incoming tax revenues
C)The bulk of Social Security funds were misspent
D)There were not enough contributing workers to sustain the program.

Question 13

In order to "strengthen and save" social security President George W.Bush proposed:

A)extending retirement until age 69
B)removing low-wage workers from the program.
C)a strict means testing for benefits
D)adding individual,private investments to the traditional system.

Question 14

The Social Security Act,like any policy or legislation was developed based on the assumptions and social conditions of the era in which it was created.List and describe at least three of the accepted assumptions of that time that are reflected in the program.Are these ideologies and assumptions/values that today's society retains? If not,what are the current predominant ideologies with respect to social insurance and elder care?

Question 15

The Social Security Act has remained unchanged since its passage in 1935.

Question 16

Medicare provides health coverage for those receiving old age insurance who are over sixty five years of age.

Question 17

The use of the term entitlement probably originated:

A)in legal discussions of welfare in the 1960s
B)on the floor of Congress while debating the Social Security Act
C)in a text book written by Jane Addams
D)in the language of OASDI

Question 18

AFDC is categorized as what type of entitlement?

A)Earned income entitlement.
B)Deserving poor entitlement.
C)Income based entitlement.
D)Earned entitlement.

Question 19

A traditional pension plan is also known as a:

A)Defined contribution plan
B)Guaranteed plan
C)Fixed benefit plan
D)Defined benefit plan

Question 20

As Social Security has expanded,both numbers and categories of beneficiaries:

A)have decreased.
B)have stayed relatively the same.
C)have increased.
D)have collapsed the program's funding.

Question 21

There is a pressing issue with regard to the Baby Boomer generation as they prepare for retirement and the ability of the Social Security program to remain solvent.What are some of the solutions discussed in the text that could help the program remain solvent? What are limitations and political difficulties associated with each option? Why has congress been unwilling to amend the program?

Question 22

Describe income based entitlements and earned entitlements.What are the current perceived values of each in today's society? What are some common criticisms of entitlements and are these criticisms supported by facts? Do you think the general public has an accurate perception of what entitlements are and how they work? Why or why not?