The future of Social Security is bleak, uncertain, or just fine — depending on who you ask.

The optimist says everything will be fixed, while the pessimist says there’s no hope. Some stay in the middle. Even in that center group, only a portion commit to making their voice heard on the issue.

But for a factual look at the future of this program, you have to consider the numbers. We can look at monetary data for days and not see the whole outlook. The truth is there’s one concept that affects Social Security’s future even though it’s rarely talked about — population size.

Does a Shrinking Population Pose a Threat to Social Security?

Ideally, Social Security funds would be secured by those who have already paid in. This is why Social Security in itself is not a handout or a gift, but rather something that recipients have earned.

But we know that this is not how the program is looking in 2022. There are more people who have money coming to them than people paying in. Both shrinking birth rates and lower legal immigration are posing a challenge to the program’s future.

There are some possible ways to remedy this issue. Some people suggest that the current higher earners in the economy should pay more. With some reports suggesting Social Security may even be on life support, at least in terms of its far future, work definitely needs to be done.

Will You Help Us Make Fair Retirement a Right for All?

From policy changes to population changes, a lot is happening these days. If seniors want to be made a priority, they should be focused on making their voices heard.

We here at NORA campaign for fair yearly cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and reimbursement for years skipped. Will you please sign our petition to support this cause? And be sure to follow us on Facebook and Twitter so you never miss a post.