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Social Security news
Curated daily from official SSA channels and trusted independent sources. Each item links out to the original.
Articles
SSA's 50-Million-Record Cleanup: What to Know
The SSA says it corrected nearly 50 million records — about 15% of active Social Security numbers — in its largest-ever database cleanup, adding 17 million death dates and updating citizenship data. It calls this an accuracy project, not a benefits change, and reported no fraud prosecutions. Here's what it means for you.
How Congress Fixed Social Security in 1983
The last time Social Security nearly ran out of money, in 1983, Congress fixed it with a bipartisan deal that raised the retirement age, taxed benefits, and lifted payroll taxes — buying ~50 years. Here's what they did and what it signals for the 2032 shortfall.
Did Congress “Raid” Social Security’s Trust Fund?
No money was stolen. By law, Social Security's surpluses are invested in interest-bearing U.S. Treasury bonds — and that money is being repaid, with interest, right now. Here's how the trust fund actually works, whether it's 'just IOUs,' and what the real problem is.
Social Security COLA Is 3.6% for 2027: What Changes
It's official: Social Security benefits rise 3.6% in 2027 — about $75 more a month for the average retiree, starting in January. Here's how much more you'll get, the other 2027 figures that changed (wage base, earnings limits, SGA), and when you'll see it.
Bill: Full Retirement at 60 for Physical Jobs
A new bill, the Blue Collar Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 10608), would let workers in physically demanding jobs — construction, roofing, nursing, manufacturing, HVAC — claim their full benefit at 60 instead of 67. It's a proposal, not law. Here's what it would do.
Trump Proposes Mandatory Prison for Benefits Fraud
President Trump has called on Congress to set mandatory minimum prison terms for Medicare, Medicaid, and Social Security fraud. It's a proposal, not current law, and it doesn't affect honest beneficiaries. Here's what it would do and what the law already is.
Is Social Security a Ponzi Scheme? What's True and Not
The 'Ponzi scheme' label is a recurring talking point, and it rests on one real resemblance: today's workers fund today's retirees. But Social Security is legal, transparent, and adjustable by law — and what actually threatens it is demographics, not fraud. A neutral explainer.
The Social Security 2100 Act: What It Would Change
House Democrats' flagship bill (H.R. 9519) would boost every check, tie COLAs to seniors' actual costs, create a $1,663 minimum benefit, and cut taxes on benefits — funded by taxing income above $400,000. It's a bill with long odds, not a coming raise. Here's what's actually in it.
Can the Stock Market Save Social Security?
Borrow $1.5 trillion, invest it in stocks, let returns fix the shortfall — the idea keeps resurfacing because it promises no visible pain. Independent analyses of the leading proposal found it fully repays its borrowing in at most 36% of simulations. Here's the full picture, explained neutrally.
Sanders' $2,400 Social Security Boost, Explained
The Social Security Expansion Act would add $200 a month to every benefit check, funded by taxing income above $250,000 — and Sanders is pitching it as the alternative to the fast-track PROMISE Act. It's a bill with long odds, not a coming raise. Here's what it would do and who would pay.
The $100,000 Social Security Benefit Cap, Explained
A budget watchdog has proposed capping Social Security benefits at $100,000 a year per couple — but it's a think-tank idea, not a bill, and by its authors' own math it would initially affect only about the top 0.05% of couples. Here's how it would work and where it fits in the solvency debate.
Survey: Seniors Back Taxes on Young to Save Benefits
89% of Americans 65 and older say current retirees' benefits should be protected even if it means higher taxes on younger workers, a Cato Institute/YouGov survey found — but only 53% of adults under 30 agree. Here's the generational divide behind Social Security's funding debate — and where the parties actually agree.
SSDI Back Pay: How Much You're Owed
SSDI back pay is what Social Security owes you for the months between when your disability began and when you're approved — often a five-figure lump sum. It's calculated from your onset date minus a 5-month wait, and can reach up to 17 months before you applied.
Social Security Cuts by State: The 2032 Numbers
If Congress doesn’t act before the trust fund runs short in 2032, benefits would be cut about 24% across the board — an average of $500 a month. A state-by-state analysis shows cuts ranging from $459 to $556, hitting the oldest states hardest. See your state’s numbers.
Could Raising the Payroll Tax Save Social Security?
Raising Social Security’s 12.4% payroll tax is one of the few levers big enough to close its funding gap. The 2026 Trustees Report puts that gap at 4.42% of taxable payroll — meaning the rate would need to reach about 16.8% to fund full benefits for 75 years. Here’s what that would cost.