What Year Will Social Security run out?
David Mccullough
Published Jan 09, 2026
Social Security benefits, which aid more than 65 million Americans through monthly payments, are broken down into two key components: retirement benefits and disability benefits. Retirement funds are expected to run dry by 2034, a one-year improvement since the last report.
What will happen to Social Security in 2035?
Social Security's combined trust funds are now projected to be able to pay scheduled benefits until 2035, a full year later than was projected last year. But if nothing is done to shore up the program, just 80% of benefits will be payable at that time. Congress may choose to make select changes to repair the program.Will Social Security still exist in 2050?
The future of Social Security remains uncertain, forcing people to ask questions like, “Will Social Security run out?” According to the 2021 annual report from the Social Security board of trustees, Social Security's cash reserves will be fully depleted by 2034 — one year earlier than their 2020 report indicated.Will there be a Social Security in 2055?
According to the 2022 annual report of the Social Security Board of Trustees, the surplus in the trust funds that disburse retirement, disability and other Social Security benefits will be depleted by 2035. That's one year later than the trustees projected in their 2021 report.What will happen if Social Security runs out?
Reduced BenefitsIf no changes are made before the fund runs out, the most likely result will be a reduction in the benefits that are paid out. If the only funds available to Social Security in 2033 are the current wage taxes being paid in, the administration would still be able to pay around 75% of promised benefits.