page_title: Social Security debate in the United States
section_title: Background on funding challenges
hierarchical_section_title: Social Security debate in the United States / Background on funding challenges
caption_attribution_description: English: U.S. Social Security Trust Fund: Payroll tax revenues and interest income add to the fund, while expenses (payouts) reduce it.
context_page_description: Social Security is a social insurance program officially called "Old-age, Survivors, and Disability Insurance", in reference to its three components. It is primarily funded through a dedicated payroll tax. During 2015, total benefits of $897 billion were paid out versus $920 billion in income, a $23 billion annual surplus. Excluding interest of $93 billion, the program had a cash deficit of $70 billion. Social Security represents approximately 40% of the income of the elderly, with 53% of married couples and 74% of unmarried persons receiving 50% or more of their income from the program. An estimated 169 million people paid into the program and 60 million received benefits in 2015, roughly 2.82 workers per beneficiary.
  Reform proposals continue to circulate with some urgency, due to a long-term funding challenge faced by the program as the ratio of workers to beneficiaries falls, driven by the aging of the baby-boom generation, expected continuing low birth rate, and increasing life expectancy. Program payouts began exceeding cash program revenues in 2011; this shortfall is expected to continue indefinitely under current law.
caption: U.S. Social Security Trust Fund:  Payroll taxes and revenues add to the fund, while expenses (payouts) reduce it.
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