AARP offers $150k for Social Security innovation

Up to five successful applicants to AARP's 'Social Security Innovation Challenge' will be awarded up to $30,000 each to develop their policy innovations further.

AARP is offering up to $150,000 to stimulate development of innovative Social Security solutions.

This week, the advocacy group for Americans over age 50 announced a “Social Security Innovation Challenge.” The competition aims to identify policy solutions to strengthen economic security for American workers and retirees by achieving Social Security solvency and maintaining benefit adequacy for future generations.

AARP invites scholars and researchers from a range of perspectives and sectors  to submit their best ideas for improving the Social Security system.

Applicants are encouraged to consider macro trends (e.g., in the workforce, income, wealth, savings rates, life expectancy, fertility rates, marital status) and to offer fresh policy options that address these trends.

Up to five successful applicants will be awarded up to $30,000 each to further develop the policy innovation. Successful applicants will deliver a detailed policy paper on one or more specific policy innovation(s) to strengthen Social Security’s solvency and/or adequacy. 

AARP will work with The Urban Institute to assess the financial and distributional impact of the policy proposals developed by the successful applicants.

The Notice of Intent to Apply is due August 31, 2016. The Application for Funding is due September 30, 2016.
Send questions to Ramsey Alwin at [email protected].

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