At the end of August 2021, a new report was released that showed Social Security is projected to run out of money in 2033, one year earlier than previous calculations. With that deadline only 12 years away it is likely to impact everyone who is not already enrolled in Social Security as well as many who are. What will happen when the fund runs out? You may have heard that benefits will stop being paid once the fund runs out, but that is not likely to happen. We have laid out some of the changes that are likely to be made to Social Security over the next 12 years or after the fund runs out around 2033.
Reduced Benefits
If no changes are made before the fund runs out, the most likely result will be a reduction in the benefits that are paid out. If the only funds available to Social Security in 2033 are the current wage taxes being paid in, the administration would still be able to pay around 75% of promised benefits. While a 25% reduction in benefits could significantly hurt the retirement plans of those who are relying on their Social Security benefits, it is far less damaging than the program being shut down entirely.
With the potential for benefits to be reduced, some retirees may be tempted to apply for their benefits early to receive as much as they can before the fund runs out. However, if you start taking your benefits as soon as allowed, they will be reduced to 70% of your full-retirement age benefit. Comparing this to the 75% that could be received even after the fund runs out, you would still be hurting your retirement by applying early.
Increased Wage Taxes
To avoid benefit reductions, congress may vote to increase the Social Security taxes charged on employee wages. If the increase were put in place immediately, the employee portion of the tax would need to increase from 6.2% to 8%. This would represent an additional $900 in taxes paid annually for an employee making $50,000 per year.
Another proposal in wage taxes that has become popular in recent years is an additional tax on high earners. Rather than increasing the social security tax of 6.2% on all payers, this would implement a new tax on wage income above $400,000 to help stabilize the social security fund.
Increased Full Retirement Age
Even if the fund does not run out, the full retirement age needed to receive your full Social Security benefit is likely to go up in the future as life expectancies increase. Since the Social Security program was first started the average life expectancy has increased 7 years and yet the full age retirement for Social Security has only increased 2 years. As the fund begins to run out, it is likely that the full retirement age will be raised even further, along with harsher benefit cuts for those who apply early.
Summary
While Social Security benefits are unlikely to be completely eliminated 12 years from now, there is a strong possibility that they will be reduced significantly if revenues are not increased in the next few years. To make sure that your retirement plan is secure, you should analyze your retirement income stream under the assumption that your Social Security benefits will be reduced and determine what changes need to be made if that happens.
FAQs
Reduced Benefits
What will happen if Social Security runs out of money? ›
Social Security will still exist after 2035, according to the trustees' findings, but retirees will only receive 83% of their full benefits. Preventing that shortfall requires congressional action and would likely involve trimming benefits or increasing the Social Security payroll tax.
What happens when we run out of Social Security numbers? ›
Even though we have issued over 453 million SSNs so far, and we assign about 5 and one-half million new numbers a year, the current numbering system will provide us with enough new numbers for several generations into the future with no changes in the numbering system.
What would happen without Social Security? ›
The poverty rate for the elderly would be four times as high without Social Security and 15 million more seniors would be left struggling to survive; About 33 percent of Americans rely on Social Security for more than 90 percent of their income. This includes 52 percent of Latinos and 45 percent of African Americans.
What will replace Social Security? ›
In the proposals presented to the Commission, the use of retirement bonds--and annuities based on bond accumulations- would also replace the entire benefit structure of Social Security for the future.
Which president borrowed the most from Social Security? ›
Bush, like other former presidents, borrowed from the Social Security asset reserves to finance government expenditures. The amount that Bush borrowed was $708 billion, which is nearly half of the $1.37 trillion that the statement claimed the Bush regime borrowed.
What happens when Social Security runs out in 2034? ›
The latest projections from Social Security's actuaries show the program's trust funds are due to run out in 2034, at which point 80% of benefits will be payable.
Will Social Security exist in 30 years? ›
Will Social Security still be around when I retire? Yes. The Social Security taxes you now pay go into the Social Security Trust Funds and are used to pay benefits to current beneficiaries. The Social Security Board of Trustees now estimates that based on current law, in 2041, the Trust Funds will be depleted.
Who was the first president to dip into Social Security? ›
The Social Security Act was signed into law by President Roosevelt on August 14, 1935. In addition to several provisions for general welfare, the new Act created a social insurance program designed to pay retired workers age 65 or older a continuing income after retirement.
Is it true that Social Security is running out? ›
Introduction. As a result of changes to Social Security enacted in 1983, benefits are now expected to be payable in full on a timely basis until 2037, when the trust fund reserves are projected to become exhausted.
But even if you never worked and therefore don't have an earnings record, you're not necessarily out of luck. If you're married (or were married) to someone who's entitled to Social Security, you can collect spousal benefits equal to 50% of your husband or wife's benefits at full retirement age.
Do you get Social Security if you never pay into it? ›
If you have no record of paying into the system, you will not receive payouts. If you have not reported income and evaded taxes for a lifetime, then you have no right to Social Security benefits.
How to survive with no Social Security? ›
4 Steps to Surviving Retirement Without Social Security
- Calculate your retirement number without accounting for Social Security benefits. ...
- Consider making budget cuts to save more. ...
- Brainstorm ways to cut back on expenses in retirement. ...
- Adjust your investment strategy to maximize your savings.
Social Security can potentially be subject to tax regardless of your age. While you may have heard at some point that Social Security is no longer taxable after 70 or some other age, this isn't the case. In reality, Social Security is taxed at any age if your income exceeds a certain level.
What is better than Social Security? ›
Social Security is a government-guaranteed basic income for older Americans, funded through a special tax paid by employees and employers. For most retirees without a pension, Social Security will not be enough; other types of retirement savings, like a 401(k) or an IRA, are encouraged.
Will Gen Z get Social Security? ›
Your benefits are based on your highest 35 years of earnings (even if you don't work some of those years) and the age you are when you begin taking Social Security payments. To be eligible for full retirement benefits, millennials and Gen Zers must be 67 when they retire.
Can Social Security ever run out? ›
Will Social Security still be around when I retire? Yes. The Social Security taxes you now pay go into the Social Security Trust Funds and are used to pay benefits to current beneficiaries. The Social Security Board of Trustees now estimates that based on current law, in 2041, the Trust Funds will be depleted.
When would Social Security run out of money? ›
The most recent Social Security Trustees Report indicated the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) trust fund will run out of money by 2033, according to base-case projections. If nothing is done, it will only have enough incoming cash from taxes to support paying approximately 79% of benefits from that year on.
What happens when retirees run out of money? ›
Retirees who run out of money may be forced to rely on family members for financial assistance or government programs like Medicaid or Supplemental Security Income (SSI). This can be a significant burden on family members and can cause emotional distress for the retiree.
Will I get Social Security if it runs out? ›
Reserves generated from past surpluses help cover the difference. If and when these reserves are exhausted, only 83% of Social Security benefits will be paid to recipients, who include older adults and people with disabilities, among others.
