Tell the Truth about Social Security

Social Security provides benefits to 70 million Americans and for 40 percent of seniors it makes up the majority of their family income. But in just seven years – when today’s 60-year-olds reach their Normal Retirement Age and today’s youngest retirees turn 69 – Social Security will go insolvent. With so much on the line, it’s time to Tell the Truth about Social Security.

The Tell the Truth project is raising awareness and telling the facts about the state of Social Security’s finances, countering common myths and misperceptions, and showing there are achievable options for saving the program. Our goal is to encourage action that saves Social Security well in advance of program insolvency - rescuing it for generations to come, helping to secure our nation’s fiscal future, and providing peace of mind and security to those who rely on the program. 

It's Time to Save Social Security:

Social Security is approaching insolvency. The Social Security retirement trust fund will deplete its reserves and be unable to pay full benefits by 2032, at which point the law requires an automatic across-the-board 24 percent cut for all retirees on the program.  

Promises “not to touch Social Security” will harm beneficiaries. By not rescuing Social Security from insolvency, the result will be an $18,400 benefit cut for a typical couple retiring around that time.  

The longer we wait to rescue Social Security, the harder it will be. Delaying action increases the size of the necessary tax increases or benefit adjustments and reduces the options available for targeted reforms, while making it more difficult to phase in changes and give workers time to plan and adjust.  

America is getting older. A 65-year-old is expected to live to 85 today, compared with 78 back when Social Security was founded. Life expectancy at birth has risen even more dramatically, from 64 to 79. As 10,000 baby boomers retire each day, costs are rising, and revenue is not keeping up.  

Social Security insolvency will be within the terms of federal lawmakers. The winners of the next Senate election (2026) and next Presidential election (2028) would be in office when the retirement trust fund runs out in 2032.  

There are many ways to rescue Social Security. Saving Social Security is very achievable - numerous ideas and proposals have been put forward for policymakers to choose from.  

Get Involved:

Media Coverage Highlights:

Our Work