In reality, despite painstaking efforts to ensure that Social Security benefits are distributed fairly, the wealthy are receiving disproportionately large payouts after all. (Boston College)A Social Security reform measure in 1983 raised the full retirement age from the traditional 65 in incremental steps. Wealthier workers are able to wait longer after their full retirement age (FRA) to start claiming Social Security benefits. That trend line in itself made Social Security less progressive — less advantageous for lower-income workers than for the better-off. Curiously this aspect of Social Security benefits is seldom, if ever, addressed by reform proposals from either left or right.

Source: Los Angeles Times December 03, 2019 20:25 UTC