Social Security and Dignity in Aging

16% SS-TCL (8% employee + 8% employer) on capped wages, governed by the Solvency Governor. Removal of the $168,600 cap alone restores 75-year solvency; the 16% rate ensures permanent solvency with a 12–36 month reserve band. No benefit cuts. No retirement age increase. CBO projects OASI exhaustion 2032 with 23% benefit cut; the Accord prevents this permanently.

The Dignity Floor

$1,500/month guaranteed minimum for workers with 10+ qualifying years of covered contributions (v17: reduced from 30 years to broaden coverage). Caregiver Credits: up to 10 years imputed earnings at median census-tract wage for unpaid family caregivers. Aging in Place: ADU incentives, VHA-E home modification grants, Village Network seed grants.

SS Trust Investment

Assets invested in special-issue Treasury securities. Accumulations reduce publicly held debt; interest savings accrue to General Fund. Ring-fenced: benefit payments financed by Trust redemption. Reserve target: 12–36 months of outlays (~$4–5T at steady state).

Scoring Endnote 11: Social Security Revenue and Cost (v20)

SS-TCL: 16% (8%+8%) on capped wages via TCL. Ring-fenced to SS Trust. Permanent solvency achieved.

Dignity Floor: ~$18B/yr (workers below $1,500/mo with 10+ qualifying years).

Caregiver credits: ~$7B/yr imputed (future obligation ~$2–3B/yr over 20 yrs).

Trust reserve trajectory: near break-even Year 1 → ~$4–5T steady state by Year 25 → maintained in 12–36 month band via Solvency Governor indefinitely.

CBO comparison: without Accord, OASI exhaustion 2032 → $420B/yr in lost benefits to 70M+ beneficiaries.