Is Social Security at Risk? History, Solvency Timeline, and Policy Options

In episode two of “Creating a Better Life for Seniors,” Mike Roth and Bill Kadereit discuss whether Social Security is at risk, reviewing its origins in 1935, later additions including Medicare/Medicaid in 1965, and major changes such as the 1983 increase of full retirement age from 65 to 67. They link today’s funding challenge to slowing U.S. population growth, lower fertility/immigration, and a rising over-65 population, along with a declining worker-to-beneficiary ratio (from 5:1 in 1960 to 2.9:1 today). Citing trustee projections, they say the Old-Age and Survivors Trust can pay full benefits until late 2032, after which benefits may be reduced about 22% without action. They outline causes including boomers’ retirement, tax and benefit law changes in 2025, inequality under the $184,500 payroll cap, and discuss options: raising retirement age, increasing payroll taxes, eliminating/raising the wage cap, and means testing; they oppose raising the age and support eliminating the wage cap.

00:00 Podcast kickoff
00:36 Social Security origins
01:45 Funding can kicked
02:17 Population growth slowdown
03:39 Aging boomers pressure
05:00 Trust fund cliff 2032
07:07 Why insolvency happens
09:55 Congress options to fix
10:53 NRLN policy positions
13:12 Wrap up and next episode

Protecting Your Future-2026 Retirement Revolution

NRLN & AREF: Protecting Retirees’ Pensions, Social Security, and Medicare in 2026

In this 2026 podcast episode, host Mike interviews Bill Kadereit, President of the National Retiree Legislative Network (NRLN) and Chairman of the American Retiree Education Foundation (AREF). Kadereit explains NRLN is a 501(c)(4), nonpartisan group representing over 2 million seniors from about 300 companies and public entities, funded primarily by member contributions, advocating to protect pensions, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and lower prescription drug costs. He describes AREF as a separately financed 501(c)(3) that produces research and position papers on issues like pension risk transfers, Medicare guarantee rights, and protections in mergers and bankruptcies, funded mainly by individual donations. The discussion covers partisan gridlock, long-term underfunding risks tied to demographic trends, seniors’ voting power, NRLN’s Action Alert system via NRLN.org, and concerns that Medicare Advantage subsidies raise costs and support Medicare privatization.

00:00 Welcome and Guest Intro
00:34 What NRLN Does
01:18 Funding and AREF Overview
02:06 Research and Retiree Protections
02:52 Politics and Retiree Risks
04:08 Congress vs Retiree Reality
05:54 Senior Voting Power
06:50 How to Take Action
09:55 Long Term Underfunding Warning
10:47 Population Trends Explained
14:06 Medicare Costs and Privatization
17:04 Wrap Up and Next Episodes