Should Social Security Rely Solely on the Payroll Tax?

The brief’s key findings are:

• The Social Security payroll tax supports: 1) the cost of current benefits; and 2) the “legacy cost” of paying benefits in excess of contributions to early generations.

• Covering current costs through the payroll tax gives workers’ a sense that they have earned their benefits and provides a stable revenue source.

• Covering legacy costs, however, means that low- and middle-income workers are paying disproportionately for the benefits of past generations.

• Shifting legacy costs to the income tax would spread the burden more broadly.