United States Government Supplemental Information (Unaudited) for the Years Ended September 30, 2011, and 2010

Social Insurance

The social insurance programs consisting of Social Security, Medicare, Railroad Retirement, and Black Lung were developed to provide income security and health care coverage to citizens under specific circumstances as a responsibility of the Government. Because taxpayers rely on these programs in their long-term planning, social insurance program information should indicate whether the current law provisions of the programs can be sustained, and more generally what effect they will likely have on the Government’s financial condition. The resources needed to run these programs are raised through taxes and fees. Eligibility for benefits rests in part on earnings and time worked by the individuals. Social Security benefits are generally redistributed intentionally toward lower-wage workers (i.e., benefits are progressive). In addition, each social insurance program has a uniform set of entitling events and schedules that apply to all participants.