Implications of the Social Security amendments of 1983 for older blacks

The 1983 amendments to the Social Security Act reduced early retirements benefits and increased the retirement age for future retirees. These changes will differentially affect various segments of the older population. The author examines implications of these changes for older blacks, and concludes that disability and low income are primary factors that put older blacks at risk for negative consequences as a result of the 1983 amendments. The findings suggest that blacks are likely to be disproportionately affected by the changes, and that the changes, as they relate to blacks, do not address the amendments' goals encouraging private savings and discouraging early retirement.