economy

Growing U.S. inequality is worsening Social Security's financial crunch, group says

June 22, 2026 / 10:00 AM EDT / CBS News

Growing U.S. inequality is worsening Social Security's financial crunch, group says

TL;DR

  • Income inequality is a significant factor contributing to Social Security's financial strain, alongside demographic shifts.
  • The program's tax cap of $184,500 means that much of the faster income growth among high earners is not taxed by Social Security.
  • The share of total wages subject to Social Security taxes has fallen, largely due to high earners' incomes rising faster and exceeding the tax cap.
  • Eliminating or modifying the tax cap is proposed as a way to increase revenue and shore up the program's finances.
  • Social Security's trust fund is predicted to become insolvent by the end of 2032, which could result in a 22% reduction in benefits for beneficiaries.
  • In 1983, Social Security was overhauled with measures like increased retirement age and payroll taxes, but the wage cap was not adjusted to account for subsequent labor market shifts.
  • Real earnings for the top 6% of American workers rose significantly more than for the bottom 94% between 1983 and 2000, further impacting the tax base.