AARP Poll Finds Near-Universal Support for Social Security After 85 Years

But a majority of survey respondents expressed concern about future of the program

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John Waggoner

AARP

En español

Published August 14, 2020

Now in its 85th year, Social Security enjoys over 90 percent support among Democrats, Republicans and independents, according to an AARP survey of 1,441 people ages 18 and older.

Happy Birthday, Social Security!

The survey, conducted between July 14 and July 27, found near-universal support for Social Security: 96 percent of those polled regardless of affiliation said Social Security was either the most important government program or an important one compared with other government programs. And 2 in 5 of those surveyed said they will rely on Social Security as a substantial source of income in retirement. More than 69 million people — and almost 9 out of 10 of those 65 and older — get Social Security benefits, according to the Social Security Administration (SSA).

"It's crystal clear that Americans of all generations value the economic stability Social Security has offered for the last 85 years — even more so as we face the health and economic challenges of a global pandemic,” said Nancy LeaMond, AARP executive vice president and chief advocacy & engagement officer. “With so many Americans struggling to afford health care and other basic needs, Social Security is more important than ever — and AARP will never stop fighting to strengthen Social Security and make sure hard-working Americans get the benefits they've earned."

A big part of retirement

Retirement income traditionally consists of several parts. One is Social Security benefits, another is pension payouts and a third is personal retirement accounts, such as a 401(k) or an IRA. Then there is personal savings and, finally, investments. This is still true for some, but of the three most prominent legs, 39 percent of those polled in the AARP survey rely or expect to rely on Social Security benefits the most, followed by personal retirement account savings (34 percent) and employer-paid pensions (17 percent).

Among respondents, 81 percent said that they somewhat relied on Social Security payments or substantially relied or planned to rely on those payments. Forty-eight percent said the same about employer-paid pensions, while 70 percent said that they relied somewhat or substantially on money from a personal retirement account. Sixty-five percent relied on income from savings and investments.

COVID-19, and the wave of unemployment in its wake, has boosted the importance of Social Security, according to the poll: 56 percent say Social Security is more important now than it was before the pandemic. Only 1 percent thought Social Security was less important now than before COVID-19 hit. The overall unemployment rate in July was 10.2 percent, the highest since April 1983. The unemployment rate for workers 55 and older was 8.8 percent.

Most people wish Social Security payments were larger. The average Social Security retirement payment is about $1,503 per month, and 65 percent of those asked thought that was too low. Just 3 percent thought it was too high.

Worries about the future

Support for Social Security was high across the political spectrum: 93 percent of Republicans, 99 percent of Democrats and 92 percent of independents see Social Security as an important government program. But as much as people of all affiliations value Social Security, most Americans seem worried about it: 57 percent of respondents aren't confident in the future of the program. Among the reasons why:

No trust in the government to keep its promises (29 percent)
Think money is running out (26 percent)
Say politicians have taken money from Social Security in the past (16 percent)

Although the Social Security trust fund for retirees could run out of money by 2034, continuing payroll tax revenue would enable the system to pay out at 76 percent of scheduled benefits, according to the latest annual forecast from the Social Security Trustees. The trust fund for disability insurance (DI) will be able to pay out full benefits until 2065, according to the latest forecast, and then would pay at 92 percent of scheduled benefits.

The AARP survey, which marks the anniversary of the Social Security Act being signed into law on Aug. 14, 1935, shows that most people believe that Social Security should be preserved. A large majority — 89 percent — say it would be unfair to people who are retired or near retirement to make major changes to Social Security that would affect them. Some 88 percent say that Social Security makes it possible for older Americans to remain independent and not have to depend on their family. And 88 percent also say Social Security provides financial security for all Americans; without it, the people who count on it most would really suffer.

John Waggoner covers all things financial for AARP, from budgeting and taxes to retirement planning and Social Security. Previously he was a reporter for Kiplinger's Personal Finance and  USA Today and has written books on investing and the 2008 financial crisis. Waggoner's  USA Today investing column ran in dozens of newspapers for 25 years.

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