Social Security

When you retire, how much do you expect to rely on Social Security -- will it be a major source of income, a minor source of income or not a source at all?

Based on nonretirees

	Major source	Minor source	Not a source	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2024 Apr 1-22	35	48	13	4
2023 Apr 3-25	34	48	17	1
2022 Apr 1-19	33	51	16	1
2021 Apr 1-21	38	47	15	*
2020 Apr 1-14	36	52	12	*
2019 Apr 1-9	33	50	16	1
2018 Apr 2-11	30	54	14	2
2017 Apr 5-9	34	45	19	2
2016 Apr 6-10	29	50	20	1
2015 Apr 9-12	36	48	14	3
2014 Apr 3-6	31	51	16	3
2013 Apr 4-14	30	51	17	1
2012 Apr 9-12	33	45	21	2
2011 Apr 7-11	31	47	20	2
2010 Apr 8-11	34	46	20	*
2009 Apr 6-9	30	49	18	3
2008 Apr 6-9	31	53	15	1
2007 Apr 2-5	27	51	20	2
2006 Apr 10-13	25	51	22	2
2005 Apr 4-7	28	53	18	1
2004 Apr 5-8	25	56	18	1
2003 Apr 7-9	29	57	12	2
2002 Apr 8-11	27	56	15	2
2001 Apr 6-8	28	57	14	1
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

How much do you rely on Social Security today -- is it a major source of income, a minor source of income or not a source at all?

Based on retirees

	Major source	Minor source	Not a source	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2024 Apr 1-22	60	28	11	1
2023 Apr 3-25	59	29	10	2
2022 Apr 1-19	55	34	10	1
2021 Apr 1-21	57	32	10	1
2020 Apr 1-14	58	31	11	*
2019 Apr 1-9	57	33	10	1
2018 Apr 2-11	57	33	10	*
2017 Apr 5-9	55	34	10	1
2016 Apr 6-10	59	28	12	1
2015 Apr 9-12	59	31	9	1
2014 Apr 3-6	55	33	10	3
2013 Apr 4-14	61	28	9	2
2012 Apr 9-12	57	27	13	3
2011 Apr 7-11	57	33	9	2
2010 Apr 8-11	54	32	13	*
2009 Apr 6-9	57	31	10	2
2008 Apr 6-9	56	29	13	1
2007 Apr 2-5	54	34	10	2
2006 Apr 10-13	55	32	12	1
2005 Apr 4-7	58	30	11	1
2004 Apr 5-8	55	31	13	1
2003 Apr 7-9	50	35	13	2
2002 Apr 8-11	58	22	18	2
* Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Next, I'm going to read a list of problems facing the country. For each one, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little or not at all. How much do you personally worry about the Social Security system?

	Great deal	Fair amount	Only a little	Not at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2024 Mar 1-20	43	24	20	12	1
2023 Mar 1-23	45	29	17	9	--
2022 Mar 1-18	40	31	17	11	1
2021 Mar 1-15	43	30	17	10	*
2020 Mar 2-13	38	30	20	11	*
2019 Mar 1-10	41	26	23	10	1
2018 Mar 1-8	44	28	17	10	1
2017 Mar 1-5	45	25	20	10	*
2016 Mar 2-6	46	25	16	12	*
2015 Mar 5-8	46	29	14	11	1
2014 Mar 6-9 ^	46	29	18	6	1
2013 Mar 7-10	50	25	18	6	1
2012 Mar 8-11	48	30	14	7	1
2011 Mar 3-6	51	26	15	7	*
2010 Mar 4-7	53	26	14	7	1
2008 Mar 6-9	46	29	16	8	1
2007 Mar 11-14	49	27	16	7	1
2006 Mar 13-16	51	29	14	6	*
2005 Mar 7-10	48	24	20	7	1
^ Asked of a half sample; * Less than 0.5%
Gallup

Next, we'd like to know how you feel about the state of the nation in each of the following areas. For each one, please say whether you are -- very satisfied, somewhat satisfied, somewhat dissatisfied or very dissatisfied. If you don't have enough information about a particular subject to rate it, just say so. How about -- the Social Security and Medicare systems?

	Very satisfied	Somewhat satisfied	Somewhat dissatisfied	Very dissatisfied	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2024	14	30	25	22	9
2023	13	32	20	25	9
2022	12	26	25	29	9
2021	11	33	25	22	9
2020	12	31	25	26	6
2019	12	33	27	23	6
2018	11	32	25	25	7
2017	14	33	24	22	7
2016	8	32	28	27	5
2015	11	26	27	29	7
2014	12	30	26	25	6
2013	14	29	21	29	7
2012	9	25	28	32	7
2008	8	23	29	35	5
2007	9	23	34	29	5
2006	8	27	24	34	6
2005	8	23	29	36	4
2004	7	24	36	29	4
2003	8	27	31	29	5
2002	9	32	29	26	4
2001	6	32	32	25	5
Gallup

Do you think the Social Security system will be able to pay you a benefit when you retire?

Based on nonretirees

	Yes	No	Doesn't apply (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2023 Jun-Jul	50	47	1	2
2015 Jul-Aug	45	51	1	4
2010 Jul 8-11	36	60	1	2
2005 Jan 7-9	45	50	1	4
2001 Mar 26-28	52	41	2	5
2000 Aug 11-12	49	42	2	7
1994 Jan	47	52	--	1
1992 Mar	49	49	--	2
1991 Mar	49	48	--	3
1991 Mar	51	42	--	7
1990 Mar	48	47	--	5
1989 Dec	49	47	--	4
(vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Do you think the Social Security system will be able to continue to pay you full benefits, or do you think there will eventually be cuts in your benefits?

Based on retirees

	Continue to get full benefits	Will be cut in benefits	Doesn't apply (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2023 Jun-Jul	53	43	2	2
2015 Jul-Aug	49	43	2	7
2010 Jul 8-11	37	56	2	6
2005 Jan 7-9	57	32	4	7
(vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

If you had to choose one of the following approaches to ensuring Social Security's long-term future, would you rather -- [ROTATED: raise Social Security taxes (or) curb the amount of benefits for future Social Security recipients]?

	Raise taxes	Curb benefits	No opinion
	%	%	%
2023 Jun-Jul	61	31	8
2015 Jul-Aug	51	37	12
2010 Jul 8-11	49	40	11
2005 Apr 29-May 1	53	38	9
Gallup

Which of these statements do you think best describes the Social Security system -- it is in a state of crisis, it has major problems, it has minor problems or it does not have any problems?

	Crisis	Major problems	Minor problems	No problems	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2015 Jul-Aug	21	45	28	5	1
2010 Jul 8-11	26	51	20	1	1
2005 Feb 4-6	17	55	23	4	1
2005 Jan 7-9	18	53	24	3	2
2002 Sep 20-22	13	54	29	3	1
1998 Dec 4-6	15	55	23	5	2
Gallup

How long do you think it will be until the costs of the Medicare and Social Security programs create a crisis for the federal government -- are they already creating a crisis, will they create a crisis within the next 10 years, within 10 to 20 years, in more than 20 years or not for the foreseeable future?

	Already creating crisis	Within 10 years	Within 10-20 years	More than 20 years	Not foreseeable future	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%	%
2011 Apr 20-23	34	33	19	4	7	2
Gallup

Now I'd like to ask you about the major entitlement programs the government is committed to, including Social Security and Medicare. Do you think the cost of these programs will create major economic problems for the U.S. in the next 25 years if no changes are made to them, or not?

	Yes, will	No, will not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2010 Nov 19-21	75	22	3
2010 Sep 13-16	77	18	4
Gallup

Assuming there would be no change in Social Security benefits for those who are now age 55 or older, do you think each of the following would be a good idea or a bad idea to address concerns with the Social Security system? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

	Good idea	Bad idea	No opinion
	%	%	%
Increasing the age at which people are eligible to receive full benefits
2010 Jul 8-11	35%	63	1
2005 Feb 4-6	35%	63	2
Limiting benefits for wealthy retirees
2010 Jul 8-11	63%	35	2
2005 Feb 4-6	68%	29	3
Further reducing the benefits a person would receive if they retire early
2010 Jul 8-11	44%	53	3
2005 Feb 4-6	40%	57	3
Increasing Social Security taxes for all workers
2010 Jul 8-11	34%	64	2
2005 Feb 4-6	37%	60	3
Requiring higher income workers to pay Soc Sec taxes on all their wages
2010 Jul 8-11	67%	30	3
2005 Feb 4-6	67%	30	3
Reducing retirement benefits for people who are currently under age 55
2010 Jul 8-11	39%	57	4
2005 Feb 4-6	29%	67	4
Gallup

How much planning would you say you've done for your retirement-enough planning considering your present age, some but not enough planning considering your present age, or no planning at all?

Based on nonretired adults

	Enough planning	Some, but not enough	No planning at all	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2005 Nov 11-13	32	52	15	1
2005 Feb 4-6	32	53	14	1
Gallup

Based on what you have heard or read, in general, do you approve or disapprove of George W. Bush's approach to addressing the Social Security system?

	Approve	Disapprove	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Jul 22-24	29	62	9
2005 Mar 18-20	40	53	7
2005 Feb 4-6	44	50	6
Gallup

As you may know, a proposal has been made that would allow workers to invest part of their Social Security taxes in the stock market or in bonds, while the rest of those taxes would remain in the Social Security system. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Jun 24-26	44	53	3
2005 Apr 29-May 1	44	52	4
2005 Apr 1-2 ^	39	56	5
2005 Mar 18-20 ^	45	47	8
2004 Dec 17-19 ^	48	48	4
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Who do you trust more to deal with the issue of Social Security retirement benefits -- [ROTATED: the Democratic Party (or) the Republican Party]?

	Democratic Party	Republican Party	Both equally (vol.)	Neither (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%	%
2005 Jun 24-26	47	34	3	13	3
2005 Apr 29-May 1	46	36	3	12	3
2005 Feb 25-27	47	37	2	9	5
(vol.)=volunteered response
Gallup

Do you think the federal government should make major changes in the Social Security system to ensure its long-term future -- in the next year or two, within the next 10 years, or do you think major changes are not needed within the next 10 years?

	Next year or two	Next 10 years	Changes not needed	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2005 Apr 29-May 1	45%	36	16	3
2005 Feb 25-27 ^	38%	37	22	3
2005 Jan 7-9	49%	39	9	3
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

As you may know, a proposal has been made that would curb Social Security benefits for middle income workers in the future, curb them even more for higher income workers, but would not affect benefits for lower income workers and those born before 1950. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

	Favor	Oppose	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Apr 29-May 1	38	54	8
Gallup

Do you think it is possible to ensure the long-term future of the Social Security system without either raising YOUR taxes or cutting YOUR Social Security benefits, or is that not possible?

	Yes, possible	No, not possible	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Apr 29-May 1	35	62	3
Gallup

As you may know, one idea to address concerns with the Social Security system would allow people who retire in future decades to invest some of their Social Security taxes in the stock market and bonds, but would reduce the guaranteed benefits they get when they retire. Do you think this is a good idea or a bad idea?

	Good idea	Bad idea	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Apr 1-2	33	61	6
2005 Mar 18-20	33	59	8
2005 Feb 7-10	36	60	4
2005 Feb 4-6	40	55	5
2005 Jan 7-9	40	55	5
Gallup

Do you think political leaders in this country are -- [ROTATED: moving too slowly, (or) moving at an appropriate pace] -- in taking up legislation to change the Social Security system?

	Moving too slowly	Moving at appropriate pace	Too fast (vol.)	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2005 Apr 1-2	61	29	7	3
Gallup

Which do you think is riskier for average American workers today -- [ROTATED: investing some of their Social Security taxes in stocks and bonds, (or) relying on the Social Security system to pay them the current level of benefits when they retire]?

	Investing in stocks and bonds	Relying on system	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Feb 25-27	46	50	4
^ Asked of a half sample
Gallup

Do you think the Social Security system will -- or will not -- be bankrupt by the year 2042 if major changes are not made to the system?

	Yes, will	No, will not	No opinion
	%	%	%
2005 Feb 4-6	64	30	6
Gallup

Suppose Americans were allowed to invest a portion of all the Social Security taxes that they paid in their lifetime in stocks and bonds. When they retired, do you think most Americans would receive -- [ROTATED: higher Social Security benefits than the government would provide, about the same benefits or lower Social Security benefits than the government would provide]?

	Higher	About the same	Lower	No opinion
	%	%	%	%
2005 Feb 4-6	30	27	37	6
Gallup

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Social Security

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