Social Security benefits may be reduced in the next decade due to a financing shortfall. A new survey asks Americans how they would fix the program.

Those who are unable to work in retirement may be eligible for other government benefits, depending on their income. Supplemental Security Income (SSI) is for the blind and disabled as well as low-income seniors. It provides a monthly check worth up to $967 per month for a qualifying individual or $1,450 per month for a qualifying couple.

There’s a rumor circulating that Social Security is headed toward bankruptcy. And thankfully, that rumor isn’t true. Social Security can’t completely go bankrupt because it gets funded by payroll taxes.

The non-partisan advocacy group The Senior Citizens League predicts the 2026 COLA will be 2.1%, based on data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics’ CPI-W, the index used to calculate the annual increase. December’s CPI-W came in at 2.8%. Getty Images

Nearly 72.88 million Americans rely on Social Security for monthly income. The vast majority, about 65.5 million, collect Social Security benefits. Another 4.88 million receive Supplemental

The program's combined trust funds, however, are set to run dry in 2035, according to the most recent Social Security Trustees report. And while that date is by no means set in stone, if it is correct, it means the program may have to implement sweeping benefit cuts a decade from now.

Unclear if sweeping executive order will affect Medicaid and other federal assistance programs for older Americans.

Fact checked by Vikki Velasquez In January 2025, former President Joe Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law. The new legislation terminated two rules that reduced Social Security benefits for millions of retirees.

After fours years of criticizing budget deficits under Joe Biden, Republicans now have a math problem of their own.

A beneficiary is someone who receives a financial asset that was once owned by someone else. Choosing beneficiaries helps ensure that your assets go to the right people once you pass on. It’s a good idea to designate beneficiaries on specific accounts in addition to naming beneficiaries in your will.

The Trump administration’s immigration enforcement plans featured a highly visible role for the military and federal agents in tactical gear.