Washington, DC (WSYR-TV) - A new USA Today/Gallup poll indicates Americans have lost faith in the Social Security system and a majority of retirees say they expect their current benefits to be cut.
The poll finds a record six of 10 non-retirees predict Social Security won't be able to pay them benefits when they stop working.
Young workers are the most skeptical; approximately 75 percent of workers between the ages of 18 and 34 don't expect to receive a social security check when they retire.
The public's views are more dire than the calculations of Social Security's trustees. Last year, they projected the system would begin running in the red in 2016, as the Baby Boom generation retired, and the trust fund would be exhausted in 2037.
Even then, Social Security — which celebrates its 75th anniversary next month — could finance about three-fourths of current benefits through the payroll tax.
