Social Security Trust Fund Projected to Deplete in Six Years

The fund supports roughly 68 million Americans who receive monthly payments. If no action is taken, benefits would be reduced by an average of 22 percent once reserves are exhausted. Current law requires automatic reductions when the trust fund balance reaches zero. No legislative changes have been enacted to alter that schedule.

Lawmakers have not scheduled votes on measures that would change contribution rates or benefit formulas. No agency has released updated cash-flow estimates beyond the six-year horizon cited in the coverage.