1.   Benefit cuts are expected to be a critical part of the autumn public spending statement to be made by Chancellor Norman Lamont next week.

2.   Analysts say draining money out of the trust fund surplus would either accelerate its insolvency or necessitate benefit cuts for retirees.

3.   As a result, he added, the country would have to examine a long menu of potential benefit cuts.

4.   Benefit cuts likely from his idea would have a disproportionate effect on women because they tend to have smaller incomes, fewer savings and longer lives than men.

5.   Because women tend to have smaller incomes, fewer savings and longer lives than men, possible benefit cuts resulting from privatization would have a disproportionate impact on them.

6.   Both postpone tough decisions about higher taxes, benefit cuts or new deficit spending that will have to be made later.

7.   After the trust funds collapse, benefit cuts, higher taxes or both will be necessary.

8.   Bush has ruled out Social Security tax increases and benefit cuts to those in or near retirement.

9.   But even in expensive Connecticut, the tide is toward benefit cuts.

10.   But stocks have performed dismally, and a presidential commission just concluded that benefit cuts may be necessary to avoid insolvency.