Many Americans support some type of paid family leave after the birth or adoption of a child. The U.S. doesn’t mandate paid family leave. What is the proper role of government? Some on the Left favor direct government subsidies or employer mandates to provide family leave. Some on the Right have offered tax credits to encourage employers to provide this benefit.

One new proposal, offered by the Independent Women’s Forum, is to allow women and men to tap into their Social Security benefits, effectively front-loading a benefit while agreeing to delay their eligibility to receive benefits during their retirement. Supporters of this proposal argue it would give families needed flexibility in a cost-neutral manner. Opponents, including prominent groups on the Right, argue the policy would add pressure to Social Security’s already broken finances.