Social Security’s Financial Outlook: The 2015 Update in Perspective

The brief’s key findings are:

• The 2015 Trustees Report shows little change from last year:
  • Social Security’s 75-year deficit declined modestly from 2.88 percent to 2.68 percent of payroll.
  • The deficit as a percent of GDP remains at about 1 percent.
  • Trust fund exhaustion moved back slightly from 2033 to 2034, after which payroll taxes still cover about three quarters of promised benefits.
• The shortfall is manageable, but action should be taken soon to restore confidence in the program and give people time to adjust to needed changes.
• In addition, the disability insurance program needs immediate attention, as its trust fund is expected to be exhausted next year.