What is the future of Social Security?

With Social Security expected to run out of reserves by 2034, reforming the entitlement program remains a priority issue for some lawmakers.

A higher retirement age, fewer cost-of-living increases, and lower taxes could be part of Social Security reform if new proposals advance on Capitol Hill.

As recently as December, a new plan to improve the solvency of Social Security was introduced by Republican Congressman Sam Johnson, chairman of the Ways and Means Social Security Subcommittee.

The Social Security Reform Act of 2016 (HR. 6489) would impose significant changes to the system. The plan includes some elements of earlier proposals as well as many new ideas.

Keeping America’s retirement safety-net solvent

According the latest Social Security Trustees Report,the trust fund’s reserves would be depleted by 2034, at which time recipients would face an approximate 25% reduction in benefits. Over the past decade, there have been numerous proposals to reform the system. For example, reforms were included in the recommendations in the 2010 Bowles-Simpson deficit reduction proposal.

Increasing the retirement age has been a common theme of many proposals, including the recent bill.

One key difference between this proposal and earlier versions is that it does not include an increase in the Social Security wage base for determining payroll taxes. Currently at $127,200 for 2017, other proposals have called for an increase in the wage base to approximately $200,000 — or in some cases $250,000. Given that the system has not seen a comprehensive overhaul since 1983, one could argue that Social Security is overdue for major change. However, any proposal to radically alter Social Security will likely receive significant opposition from various interest groups and require at least some level of bipartisan cooperation.

Still, given Social Security’s current financial trajectory, those born in 1960 and after should consider the risk of reduced benefits in the future when planning for income in retirement. Most people will include Social Security as a source of retirement income. Today, more than 38 million Americans receive benefits. An advisor can help investors determine the optimal time to claim benefits and monitor potential changes in the system.

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The opinions expressed here are my own and not those of Putnam Investments and are not intended as tax, legal, or investment advice. Investors should carefully consider the investment objectives, risks, charges, and expenses of a fund before investing. For a prospectus, or a summary prospectus if available, containing this and other information for any Putnam fund or product, visit the prospectus section, call your financial representative, or call Putnam at 1-800-225-1581. Please read the prospectus carefully before investing. Putnam Retail Management

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