In the past decades, Social Security Administration has had annual revenue that excesses the amount it pays to beneficiaries. However, U.S. economy situation has created a long-term effect in many of the public organizations and departments. Social Security Administration is one of many departments that will face some economy issues during U.S. economy recovery. Social security will post nearly $600 billion in deficits over the next decade as the economy struggles to recover and millions of baby boomers stand at the brink of retirement, according to new congressional projections, (Ohlemancher, 2011). The funds that Social Security has save to payout their beneficiaries have an expiration date. In the upcoming years more people will be eligible for retirement, however, many of them will only be pay 78 percent of their benefits, (Ohlemancher, 2011). The government needs to find solutions for the upcoming deficits and be able to help Social Security Administration to no run out of funds.
Issues
In 2011, Social security administration will collect about 4.6 million retirement, survivor, and Medicare claims. 3.3 million Social Security and SSI claims and 326,000 SSI aged claims, (Social Security, 2011). These claims have to go to procedures that can take months to be approval. During these procedures, many more applicants are eligible to apply for social security and more money is pay to beneficiaries. In 2011, social security will collect $45 million less in payroll that it pays out in retirement, disability and survivor benefits, according to the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office, (Ohlemacher, 2011).
54 million people receive retirement, disability or survivor benefits with an average payment of $1,076 a month, (Ohlemacher, 2011). Social Security Administration has being able to save and invest taxpayers money into U.S. Treasury department. The money save into U.S. treasury department accumulates interest for future Social Security beneficiaries. Social Security has built up $2.5 trillion surplus since the retirement program was last overhauled in the 1980s, (Ohlemacher, 2011)
The money that Social Security invested in the treasury department is no physically available for social security beneficiaries. The $2.5 trillion has been borrowed over the years by the federal government and spent on other programs. In a promised to pay off the surpluses Treasury department has issued bonds to Social Security, Guaranteeing payments with interest (Ohlemacher, 2011). If the situation gets worst for social security and asks federal government to pay off, there’s no way that social security will obtain the money because there’s no federal funds to pay off the debts to Social Security.
Each day that goes by there is a politician or journalist arguing about social security, the plans for saving it, and the repercussions of said plans. These topics are constantly flowing through newspapers, internet sites, online journals, and economic journals as well as many other forms of media. The major topic of discussion is the plan put forth by the current administration to reform social security, or more specifically, privatize it. There is no correct argument or correct opinion on how the situation with social security should be handled. Unfortunately, the government has the power in their hands to do with it as they see fit. Presented in this paper are numerous articles stating the condition of social security and specific problems with the way social security stands today.
Social Security is a system that was set up in 1935 after the Great depression to help people get through tough times. "Social Security is now used by nearly 44 million Americans"(policy.com). Only people who payed into social security are eligible to collect when they retire. Many people think that they receive the money they pay in but that is not total true. The money that you pay in is used for the people that are receiving it now. "In 1950 there were 16 workers for every beneficiary; today there are only three workers per beneficiary"(policy.com). There is more money going into social security then coming out now. The extra money goes into a trust to be used when it is needed. By the year 2032 those numbers are going to drop. By this time most baby boomers will be retired and collecting social security. This will put a big strain on the funds. There will be more money going out then coming in. And it will not take long to use all the money that is in the trust. By the year 2034 they will only be able to pay 75 percent of the beneficiaries. "The projected average monthly Social Security benefit in 2032 of about 1,100 (in 1998 dollars) would fall to about $800, and would drop further in later years. Average benefits for low-wage earners would drop from $670 to $480"(www.ssab). Theses cut would effect the people just starting to receive benefits and those who are already receiving benefits. And with each year these benefits will decrease. As these benefits continue to decrease "the percentage of aged people living in poverty would rise"(www.ssab).Most people believe this is happening because of the baby boomers generation. There will be more people taking from social security then giving in. By the time my generation is eliable to receive social security there may not be any money to give.
United States federal budget. Social Security is the largest entitlement program in the United States. In 2013, the total Social Security expenditures were $1.3 trillion, 8.4% of the $16.3 trillion GNP (SSA.gov). There has been an issue in the White House of either opposing the cut in Social Security spending or advocating for a hike in payments. Expanding Social Security instead of reducing it would benefit seniors, especially considering America’s struggling middle class and that there are more impoverished people than ever before.
This summation of the state of Social Security was written more than a twenty years ago. Looking back, it seems as though the Social Security system frequently reaches a state of crisis in which predictions of its end arise. Since it was enacted in 1935, Social Security has been amended often, most recently in 1983, when Congress imposed a tax on the benefits of high-income retirees, raised the retirement age, and revised the tax-rate schedule.
A better way to measure the financial trouble facing Social Security is to compare the promised total future benefits to the program 's total future taxes on a present value basis. Unless policymakers cut Social Security and other programs, the fiscal and economic outlook for the nation looks grim. The large baby boomer generation is beginning to retire in droves and average life spans in the nation are continuing to rise. Those changing demographics are driving Social Security 's financial imbalances. When Social Security was created in 1935, the life expectancy for
Social security, since instituted in 1935, has kept many elderly people from running below the poverty line (Hosansky). In 2015, the Social Security Administration predicted that the funds would be depleted by 2034 (Max). This poses a serious threat to the living situation of future generations when they retire. Our elderly, by today’s standards, enjoy a comfortable lifestyle. They are able to retire and still make over one thousand dollars a month. Some people also have private pensions which allow them to live even more comfortably. But with social security funds running out, we must ask the inevitable question. Is it worth having social security anymore? Social security should be kept. One must never fully rely on social security. In addition
Social Security was established in 1935 by the Social Security Act and is the largest social welfare program in the United Sates. It is a mandatory insurance system that holds a FICA tax on worker payrolls and matches these funds with employer contributions that are kept in a trust fund that pays retirement pensions based on prior earnings in the labor market. The social security system was designed to supplement private saving and pensions. When each worker reaches retirement age, currently 66 for those born 1943-1954, the monthly pensions from Social Security fund to be paid. Over 90% of retired workers receive retirement pensions under this
Social Security is a public program designed to provide income and services to individuals in the event of retirement, sickness, disability, death, or unemployment. In the United States, the word social security refers to the programs established in 1935 under the Social Security Act. Societies throughout history have devised ways to support people who cannot support themselves. In 1937 the government began issuing Social Security identification cards to all citizens. Each card had a unique number that the government used to keep track of a person’s earnings and the taxes collected from those earnings that went to finance Social Security benefits. The Social Security Act is an act in which taxes would be deducted from workers earnings to finance both old age benefits and unemployment compensation. The government began collecting Social Security taxes in 1937 and putting them in a trust fund. It was a fund that the government could use to pay benefits, cover administrative costs, and invest in securities to earn interest.
Which is why Social Security is still in existence. The program is not exactly working as it is supposed to now. People working now have to ask themselves will there be any social security benefits when they retire. The answer fortunately for them is yes but it will be significantly less of a benefit their mother and grandfathers got. It's even possible that there will be no social security for me when I retire. The government is thinking about raising the age you can collect at since people are living longer.The system is now under financed. For right now it is working as intended but in 2033 it might
The government is investing more money than what it is able to produce causing the limitation on the amount that is given to the Social Security program. As the program expands as time progress, it needs, analyzes economic factors that might cause a shift in the imbalance of the funds. The United States is constantly shifting changes in the economy, for instance, the ratio of beneficiaries to employees it is causing a shortfall in the amount of money that is needed to provide the promised Social Security pension. As well as the life expectancy increasing that result in providing more money compared to previous generations that had a lower life expectancy. With the economy becoming weak by inflammation and other factors, Social Security realizes some impacts causing the shortage of money to provide to
Privatizing of social security has been a subject of debate over the years ever since former president George. W. Bush suggested it back in 2004.Over 96% of the American workers benefit from the social security after paying the social security tax (Aaron 12). This is to say that over 49 million people receive some amount of money from the system which fortunately for them is much higher than the taxes they contribute towards the same. While such payment may not be more than $895, nearly two thirds of the American retired population acquires half of their income from the social security payments. For some it is the only source of income. One importance of this social security is its ability to cover the users from unpredictable economic environment including fluctuations in demand and supply and inflation rates. Additionally the security covers them against possible disability or unexpected demise of loved ones. So with the increasing economic uncertainty both nationally and globally, social security is needed more than ever before and this is why privatizing it is the worst idea ever.
For more than 75 years, social security has been designed to ensure retired workers that there will be money when it comes time to retire. Since 1935, social security has been the main foundation of economic security for Americans. Social security has developed a steady income for retired workers and helps the disabled worker make a decent living as well. The money made by the worker is divided into payments to help provide for them and their family. There are a few suggestions that should be taken into consideration in order to help fix social security problems. The raising old taxes that finance social security, and raising the retirement age, and only providing social security to ones who earn less than a certain amount of income are some
Richard A. Gephardt, Being Careful with Social Security [article online], Newsweek Inc. Accessed 15 January 1997; Page A19. Social Security Administration. Available from http://www.ssa.gov
After the creation of the SSA, a program was in place whereby those who have reached the age of 65 could receive a pension to live with during their old age. The important fact here is that the SSA is a public, federal, organization. When created, it helped to shift the focus away from private organizations performing the same function and increase the focus on a public organization doing so. In many Americans’ minds, this began to associate the government with protection and it made it so that the government was expected to provide welfare to those in need. Before, the idea of the government providing welfare was much less prevalent. This effect has continued, and increased until today—when unemployment benefits are
Funding for social security becomes an important issue because the life expectancy has increased drastically since the initiation of social security. Individuals are able to retire at age sixty-five, the same age they begin receiving social security checks to provide them with the money needed to survive. The retirement age is now an issue because the program designed the age of retirement over twenty years ago which is significant because it is not designed for people to live much past eighty. Social security’s greatest obstacle is the shift in life expectancy because “most babies born in 1900 did not live past age 50, life expectancy at birth now exceeds 83 years” it is so difficult to accommodate and raise enough funds for individuals to