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Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

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Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#11

We've known this was coming for a long time...as a Millennial, I don't expect to ever see a cent of Social Security benefits.

As a millenial, I'm eating a teaspoon of cat food each day to prepare my body for the day when it becomes my full-time diet.

Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#12
post #10

We've known this was coming for a long time...as a Millennial, I don't expect to ever see a cent of Social Security benefits.

This was also the longtime belief of my parents, who both recently began collecting Social Security benefits. Social Security will only die if we let it be killed.

I'm pretty sure it can die from math, too.

Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#13

We've known this was coming for a long time...as a Millennial, I don't expect to ever see a cent of Social Security benefits.

Social security will always be around in one form or another. Despite the fact that many Americans detest the idea of a welfare state, we're still collectively bright enough to realize that you can't simply leave no options for the sick, poor, and disabled.

The better question to ask is whether you will be happy living out the twilight of your life on a government controlled amount of money. This amount will likely always gravitate toward the prevailing poverty line. Unlikely to lead to a truly comfortable existence. Definitely not enough to live in any high COL location. Average monthly benefit in 2017 was ~$1,300, and MAX was $2,687 [1]. ~$15-$30K will cover the basics in most lower COL parts of the country, but not much more.

[1] http://time.com/money/4644332/maximum-social-security-benefi...

Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#14
post #12
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was also the longtime belief of my parents, who both recently began collecting Social Security benefits. Social Security will only die if we let it be killed.

I'm pretty sure it can die from math, too.

Well not if we put it in a money market mutual fund, then we'll reinvest the earnings into foreign currency accounts with compounding interests, AND IT'S GONE.

Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#15
post #8

We've known this was coming for a long time...as a Millennial, I don't expect to ever see a cent of Social Security benefits.

As a Millenial who tries to not hot-take, I do expect to receive Social Security benefits. I'm not planning on it being a requirement to survive, but I am expecting it to be there in a nontrivial form. As is widely noted the trust funds will, at current projected rates of usage, be tapped in 2034, but projected income (hence the "further looting" part) covers around 75% of all benefits at that point. Baby Boomers wil…

I don’t know if caps are politically safe. After all even Obama wasn’t able to remove 529 college savings plans which purportedly benefit the upper middle class who don’t need that much help. Caps going up to say 500,000 sounds like it would meet a lot of resistance to me.

Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#16
post #8

We've known this was coming for a long time...as a Millennial, I don't expect to ever see a cent of Social Security benefits.

As a Millenial who tries to not hot-take, I do expect to receive Social Security benefits. I'm not planning on it being a requirement to survive, but I am expecting it to be there in a nontrivial form. As is widely noted the trust funds will, at current projected rates of usage, be tapped in 2034, but projected income (hence the "further looting" part) covers around 75% of all benefits at that point. Baby Boomers wil…

It's not a hot take to think that an unsustainable service that many members of government have campaigned on reducing or eliminating entirely wont exist in 30+ years.

Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#17
post #12
post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was also the longtime belief of my parents, who both recently began collecting Social Security benefits. Social Security will only die if we let it be killed.

I'm pretty sure it can die from math, too.

That’s like blaming math on a bankruptcy that follows not paying your bills.

Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#18

We've known this was coming for a long time...as a Millennial, I don't expect to ever see a cent of Social Security benefits.

As a millennial, I do. There are just too many easy mitigations here that will extend life several decades: - Remove the cap and tax income above $120k, just like medicare and income tax - Increased tax rate, possibly just on payroll not income (the employer-paid portion) - Limited forms of means-testing (Maybe, attenuated survivor benefits as your estate value clears a certain high mark like $3 million) - Eliminate…

Came here to say the same thing. There are some very sensible fixes to extend SS to younger folks.

Medicare, however, is another story.

Re: Social Security says system's costs will exceed income this year

#20

We've known this was coming for a long time...as a Millennial, I don't expect to ever see a cent of Social Security benefits.

As a millennial, I do. There are just too many easy mitigations here that will extend life several decades: - Remove the cap and tax income above $120k, just like medicare and income tax - Increased tax rate, possibly just on payroll not income (the employer-paid portion) - Limited forms of means-testing (Maybe, attenuated survivor benefits as your estate value clears a certain high mark like $3 million) - Eliminate…

means testing is super unfair to those who sacrificed lifestyle in their youth to save for retirement.

Consider the person that could have, but didnt, live a lavish lifestyle and instead responsibly saved. Then a benefit (which they paid into, and maybe rely upon) is removed after the fact? Bad news.

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