Former Florida Governor Bush recently told CBS News that the current basic retirement age of 65 needs to go to 68 or 70 as a way to sustain Social Security for those now under 40. The Social Security retirement age is based on a sliding scale which takes into account when the recipient was born and whether they want to retire early in return for a reduction in monthly benefits. The current age to begin receiving benefits is set at 65 for those born prior to 1938. Under current law, it rises gradually to age 67 for those born in 1960 or later. Proponents argue that Americans are living longer and healthier lives than they did when Social Security was founded and the program will run $7.7 trillion in the red during the next 75 years. Opponents argue that Social Security provides at least half of total retirement income for more than two-thirds of all retirees and raising the age will rob lower income seniors of necessary benefits.
@ISIDEWITH8yrs
No, this will disadvantage low income seniors whose life expectancy is lower than wealthier seniors
@ISIDEWITH6yrs
Yes, and eliminate the income cap on taxable earnings
@ISIDEWITH8yrs
@ISIDEWITH6yrs
No, eliminate the income cap on taxable earnings and stop spending current funds on other programs instead
@ISIDEWITH8yrs
Yes, people are now living longer than when the program was created
@48RBMZS2yrs
NO, and we should transition Social Security funds into privately managed retirement accounts and away from congressional access and IOU's. Social Security withdrawal should be optional so that those who don't need it are not forced to take it, instead they should receive a tax credit for each year that they don't take it.
@5L4VXDN2yrs
The retirement age should be based on the health of the senior in question. The healthier the senior, the retirement age should be raised. It should not be raised for seniors who are not healthy.
@48PQCWT2yrs
The social security program no longer functions as was intended. It was suppose to be a safety net for those whose retirement plans failed. Now people are using it as their retirement plan. They should eliminate it.
@5B6J9Z42yrs
Stop allowing people to collect at age 62. They have stopped paying in at a younger age and this further depletes money from social security. There are too many young retirees
@48MPJZT2yrs
Social security funds should be distributed at an age based on a formula that accounts for increased age of life expectancy. Future Options should exist not to pay social security and rather invest that money into a personal retirement fund or pay a tax on funds if you choose to cash them in ahead of scheduled retirement age. Not the government's job to make sure there is money for people to retire with, that responsibility should fall to each individual citizen
@48RLWN92yrs
Social Security was not intended to be a retirement program. Give every child at birth an account worth $5,000 and let it grow toward a retirement nest egg. Do NOT allow the government to be able to spend that money. Taxes would be paid on the original $5,000 when the senior retires and at a reasonable tax rate.
@48QYZ622yrs
No - many people are finding it difficult to continue physical labor type work even to the existing retirement age. Raising the retirement age will result in many more people filing for disability instead.
@487BQ3T2yrs
Social security is a clear and perfect example of a ponzi scheme. This program should be phased out as quickly as possible and retirement planning should be up to the individual. This will increase financial literacy and further promote a strong capitalist marketplace.
@4YMCK9R2yrs
Yes, only if their health is taken into consideration. For those who are not as healthy leave it. For those who are healthy raise it.
@4Z6FCFB2yrs
No, but SS should not be provided if annual income exceeds $75000.00 per year.
@48QD74H2yrs
No, not all at once, since it will take time to convince employers that those over 65 are employable. We have a serious age prejudice and discrimination in corporations, and need to enforce better age discrimination laws before we raise the retirement age; otherwise we simply create a bigger poverty stricken group, sooner.
@48WD9BS2yrs
You shouldn't be able to collect social security while still working in your previous career as it is supposed to be for retirement
@48MNYMD2yrs
No, this will force companies, schools, and other work places to continue to employ workers who are possibly not as able or as interested in doing their work. Many places don't want employees who are only there for a paycheck.
@5B46NT82yrs
Follow Milton Freedman's advice on phasing out SS.
@48RN68J2yrs
give us back our money and defund it
@48MD6842yrs
Regardless, social security should be eliminated because it is an unconstitutional transfer of wealth.
@4Z6FCX22yrs
Yes, but only for those currently under age 55. The retirement age for anyone 55 or older should NOT be raised.
@5L56L572yrs
No, living longer and healthier does not mean still able to perform work especially at the age of 70
@48S5J3H2yrs
No, people worked a good bit of their lives keeping the country moving during their workable years. They should be allowed to retire while the Quality of life is still advantage0us. Living longer does not mean having a good quality of life.
@98T4DFK1wk
it depends on each person living status
@98S9LP71wk
Not to sure on this topic?
@98QVKZC2wks
keep it the same as it is
@98NY4SJ3wks
yes, and increase with avg health span
@98NKW2Z3wks
I say. You retire when you feel that you have worked long enough that you think you will be able to retire and keep afloat on your own.
@98MSLKY3wks
I think in order to balance the budget Social Security reform is needed it will probably manifest as raising the age, raising the tax, and changing how the system works.
@98L3K263wks
I think that it should be lowed by a couple of years.
@98KDWJL4wks
No and decrease funding for Social Security and redirect some of the funding to a universal basic income program.
@Dean4wks
Yes, but I would prefer to get rid of it
@98H9SSL1mo
No, social security should be voluntary.
I think you should be able to get it earlier, but then you would just get a little less, the earlier you took it.
@97ZW7SD2mos
Raise for high income seniors lower for low income seniors
Deleted2mos
No, but I would prefer that we get UBI instead
No - though people are living longer, they are not living better, and increasing the age might disadvantage lower-income seniors.
@97WN7XG2mos
No, but I would prefer that it was privatized.
Depending on the job and how long they have worked it.
@97KS7QQ3mos
Yes, but grandfather in current citizens and have the law not take effect for an extended period of time.
@97GRMN83mos
@97F4V4K3mos
No, end social security, and make people responsible for their own finances.
@97CQS543mos
They should lower it to 50...
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