Social Security's Trust Fund Depletes in 2033: Payroll Taxes Can Cover Only 77–80% of Benefits

Without congressional action, Social Security's trust fund runs dry in seven years. Payroll tax revenue alone covers just 77–80 cents per dollar of scheduled benefits, triggering an automatic 20% reduction for roughly 70 million recipients. Congress has not passed major Social Security reform since 1983. The tools to prevent it exist; the obstacle is political will.