Social Security, formally Old Age Security and Disability (OASDI), is a federal program whose required 35 year projections have annually presented an assessment of the financial health of a program covering virtually all workers in the U.S. and received by the vast majority of retirees. The current administration has made changes to SSA staffing and program provisions. Michael Collins will describe these changes and what they may mean for long program financing and stability. While key features of the program will be described, the focus will be on policies that influence program revenue and payout in the near and projected long term. If you wish more information on the basics of the program beyond that provided to you by SSA as a covered worker or beneficiary, one source is "understanding the benefits," available on line at SSA.gov. Regardless, come to hear what is happening in the agency and to projected revenue structure.
J. Michael Collins is the Fetzer Family Chair in Consumer & Personal Finance in the School of Human Ecology, a Professor at the La Follette School of Public Affairs, a family economics specialist for the Division of Extension and the Associate Director for Training and Research at the Institute for Research on Poverty. He co-founded and led the UW Retirement and Disability Research Consortium research center funded by the Social Security Administration until funding was terminated under the current administration.
If you have preliminary questions for the speaker, please send to Program Coordinator Karen Holden at karen.holden@wisc.edu by Wednesday, February 25, 2026.
NOTE: This in-person seminar will be recorded and posted on the website.
Food Pantry Contributions:
Checks payable to UW-Foundation, with "Open Seat" on the memo line may be mailed to UWRA, 21 North Park Street, Room 7205, Madison, WI 53715-1218.
Registration Deadline: Friday, February 27, 2026
Registration:
Advance registration is required. You are encouraged to register online. To register by phone or email, call the Association office. If you or your guest registered for this seminar but cannot attend, please cancel your registration online, or email/call the UWRA office.
Parking:
Click here for a printable map of Oakwood Community Grounds for Parking and Room location.
UW-Madison Retirement Association
21 N Park St, Room 7205
Madison WI 53715-1218
608-262-0641
retireassn@mailplus.wisc.edu
