Poor Old Social Security.

Earlier this month we addressed the question of whether or not Social Security is going broke.  If you recall we told you it is not.  We spoke of increased longevity and more women in the workforce.  We also informed you that trust funds are in better shape than some folks would have you believe, though there will be a short-fall in the retirement fund in about 20 years and much earlier in the disability fund.

As always, politics plays a part and it becomes complicated as things often do when politicians get involved.  One of the Presidential candidates, Bernie Sanders, made some noise when he proposed raising the ceiling on earnings subject to the payroll tax from the current level of $118,500 to $250,000. This solution has its problems, as do others. Raising the ceiling should be part of the solution to the long-term funding of Social Security.

Social security will affect nearly all of us and those of us who are Baby Boomers are acutely interested in its near future.  As it pertains to this topic, as well as wills and probate, no one in the Seattle area is better equipped to discuss it with you than Bellevue, WA Social Security attorney Lyle Clark.  Call him today at (425) 452-3092.

Is Social Security Going Broke?

Hey “baby boomers” and “gen X’ers”, that ought to get your attention.  Be honest, it is something we have all thought about.  Those of us “lucky” enough to be born before 1953 are already receiving or are about to receive those life-saving monthly checks from Uncle Sam.  Is the future potentially worrisome?

The short answer is NO!  As it stands here in early 2017 the Social Security trust funds are “in the black”, and the retirement trust fund will remain so for at least the next 20 years.  (The disability fund is solvent for only about five years.) But what about after that?  All of the trust funds are poised to go into the red unless some important measures are in place to restore their solvency.  They won’t go broke, but they will become unable to pay full benefits for about 20 to 25 years.  This is due to the fact that some unforeseeable demographic changes have occurred since Social Security was first created. Women are now more prevalent in the workforce, people are living longer, and the Great Recession of nearly a decade ago reduced the payroll tax contributions to Social Security.

We’ll talk more about this at a later time because it impacts us all…young and old alike.  If you need thoughtful advice about social security, wills, trusts, probate, and other family financial matters here is a great place to turn.  Visit www.lmclarkattorney.com.  Please give Attorney Lyle Clark a call and arrange for a free consultation in his Bellevue WA office at (425) 452-3092.