Low Birth Rates May Cost Social Security $3 Trillion

Just in case you haven't heard, Social Security, our nation's most storied social program, is facing some serious hurdles in the years to come.

Since 1985, the annually released report from the Social Security Board of Trustees has cautioned that the program would not have sufficient revenue over the long term (defined as 75 years from the release of a report) to cover outgoing expenditures. Over the past 35 years, the estimated period of time that it would take to deplete Social Security's asset reserves (i.e., its net cash surpluses built up over time) has decreased considerably. Based on the 2020 report, Social Security's $2.9 trillion in asset reserves is projected to be exhausted by 2035.

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