| The Canadian safety net for the elderly. | |
| | |
MedLine Citation:
|
PMID: 19102138 Owner: NLM Status: MEDLINE |
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
|
Recently various analysts have called attention to the apparent success of the Canadian social assistance system in reducing poverty among the elderly and have suggested that there may be lessons to be drawn from the Canadian experience that are relevant to the evolution of the U.S. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program. This article profiles the Canadian system, compares the system to the U.S. SSI program, reviews the consequences for elderly poverty rates, assesses system costs, and then comments on pertinence of the Canadian experience to SSI policy. The Canadian minimum income guarantee for the elderly is substantially more generous than what is provided by the United States, but it is misleading to claim that the Canadian system costs only "slightly more" than the U.S. program. Such a judgment overlooks a key and costly part of the Canadian system, the Old Age Security demogrant. We estimate the total costs to Canada of providing income support for elderly persons receiving a Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS) in 2004 to be approximately C$13.3 billion (roughly US $11.1 billion), slightly more than 1 percent of gross domestic product (GDP) and almost fourteen times the U.S. allocation for SSI and food stamps for elderly SSI recipients. The significance of this commitment is underscored when it is recognized that in 2004 Canadian GDP per capita was just 80 percent of the U.S. level. The Canadian example suggests U.S. policymakers consider better integration of SSI with basic Social Security benefits, experimenting with alternatives to restricting SSI eligibility to individuals with very few assets, and reducing barriers to program access. |
| | |
Authors:
|
Michael Wiseman; Martynas Ycas |
Related Documents
:
|
12500348 - Using medicaid/schip to insure working families: the massachusetts experience. 21549988 - Objective assessment of technical skill. 2621248 - The paradox of hunger and economic prosperity in america. 17073538 - Use of clinical guidelines for whiplash by insurers. 17513578 - Core components of cardiac rehabilitation/secondary prevention programs: 2007 update: a... 14500168 - Use of operating room information system data to predict the impact of reducing turnove... |
Publication Detail:
|
Type: Journal Article |
Journal Detail:
|
Title: Social security bulletin Volume: 68 ISSN: 0037-7910 ISO Abbreviation: Soc Secur Bull Publication Date: 2008 |
Date Detail:
|
Created Date: 2008-12-23 Completed Date: 2009-02-13 Revised Date: - |
Medline Journal Info:
|
Nlm Unique ID: 22030305R Medline TA: Soc Secur Bull Country: United States |
Other Details:
|
Languages: eng Pagination: 53-67 Citation Subset: IM |
Affiliation:
|
Social Security Administration, Office of Disability and Income Assistance Policy, USA. |
Export Citation:
|
APA/MLA Format Download EndNote Download BibTex |
| MeSH Terms | |
Descriptor/Qualifier:
|
Aged Aged, 80 and over Canada Government Programs / economics* Humans Income* Pensions* Poverty / prevention & control, statistics & numerical data Public Policy Retirement / economics* Safety / economics* Socioeconomic Factors United States United States Social Security Administration |
From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine
Previous Document: An overview of the Railroad Retirement program.
Next Document: The randomized controlled trial of the treatment for clavicular fracture by rotatory manual reductio...