Social Security Amendments of 1983: legislative history and summary of provisions

This article traces the legislative history of the new law from the report, on January 20, 1983, of the recommendations of the National Commission on Social Security Reform (which formed the basis of this legislation) to enactment, on April 20, 1983, of Public Law 98-21. It also analyzes the provisions of Public Law 98-21, which, among other things, delay the annual cost-of-living adjustments in benefits from July to January of each each year, make up to one-half of the benefits received by higher-income beneficiaries subject to income taxes, gradually raise the retirement age early in the next century, call for the earlier implementation of schedule payroll tax increases, and put new Federal employees under the Social Security program. The legislation also establishes a new system of prospective payment for hospital services under Medicare and extends supplementary unemployment compensation benefits that otherwise would have expired in March 1983.