Only 40 percent of likely U.S. voters expect to receive full Social Security benefits promised to them, a new Rasmussen Reports survey finds.
While only 40 percent of the 1,000 likely voters polled were somewhat confident that Social Security will pay them all their promised benefits in their lifetime, only 17 percent of that group were very confident, according to the Rasmussen Reports telephone survey.
Meanwhile, 56 percent said they aren’t confident they would receive their full benefits, 26 percent of which said they were not at all confident of receiving what’s owed to them.
Editor's Note: The ‘Unthinkable’ Could Happen — Wall Street Journal. Prepare for Meltdown
Most survey participants didn’t frown upon Social Security, but rather they just expressed a lack of faith they would get their full benefits.
The survey found that 60 percent had a favorable opinion of Social Security, while 33 percent viewed the government retirement system unfavorably.
“Not surprisingly, voters 65 and older, most of whom are receiving Social Security benefits now, have by far the most favorable view of Social Security,” the report states.
“By contrast, just 16 percent of voters under the age of 40 are even somewhat confident that they will be paid their full Social Security benefits.”
Other polls also revealed that Americans view Social Security favorably and would even support raising the retirement age and tax contributions to keep the program going as opposed to cutting benefits.
An Associated Press-GfK poll found that 53 percent of adults said they would rather raise taxes than cut benefits for future generations, while 36 percent said they would cut benefits instead.
“Right now, it seems like we’re taxed so much, but if that would be the only way to go, I guess I’d have to be for it to preserve it,” said Marge Youngs, a 77-year-old widow from Toledo, Ohio, according to The Associated Press.
“It’s extremely important to me. It’s most of my income.”
Editor's Note: The ‘Unthinkable’ Could Happen — Wall Street Journal. Prepare for Meltdown
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