Skip to main content
Help Join 2M+ Members

Ask Rusty · Scam Watch · Frankly Financial

Straight answers about your money

Plain-English answers on Social Security, retirement income and everyday money.

Scam Watch Latest alert · The Zelle Scam

Ask Rusty · Russell Gloor · every week

From the mailbag ·

What Happens if Social Security Runs Out of Money to Pay Benefits?

Dear Rusty,

What happens to seniors if the country runs out of funds to pay out monthly Social Security to beneficiaries? I am 78 yrs old and Social Security is my only income.

— Worried Senior

Dear Worried Senior:

Please put your mind at ease - the government will never run out of money to pay Social Security benefits. That’s because if people are working and contributing to the program (e.g., always), Social Security will always have at least some money to pay benefits. What you are hearing about are recent media reports about Social Security having financial issues, expected to come to a head in just a few (six) years.

Read Rusty’s full answer

More from the mailbag

  1. My Brother Died on December 23rd – Does He Get Social Security for December?
  2. Did I Understand You Right - I Won’t Get All My SS Benefits Immediately?
  3. Does a Veteran Who Uses VA Healthcare Need Medicare at Age 65?
  4. When Will Congress Repay Social Security Money Taken Years Ago?
All 298 questions Rusty has answered

Free · every week

Get Ask Rusty in your inbox

Rusty's latest Social Security Q&A, plus benefit updates that affect you.

Free. Unsubscribe any time.

Scam Watch

Fraud can happen to anyone. Outsmart the criminals.

New alert every Tuesday: how the play runs, the tells, and the counter-move that stops it.

Frank Kestler

with Frank Kestler

Frankly Financial

Retirement income, taxes and estate basics. Education only, never a sales pitch.

Frank’s columns

  1. How Long Will You Live? Take Our 2-Minute Quiz
  2. Your 401(k) Got You to Retirement. What Comes Next?
  3. The Tax Bill You Never Saw Coming
  4. “I’m in Great Health; Why Would I Need Long-Term Care Planning?”
  5. IRA Distribution Planning: Should You Wait for RMDs?
  6. Lifestyle vs. Legacy Assets: Spending with Intention in Retirement
  7. Do I Really Need Long-Term Care Planning?
  8. The Hidden Advantages of Working with a Wealth Planner
  9. Is Uncle Sam Taking More Than His Fair Share? How to Keep Your Retirement Savings Out of the IRS’s Hands

All Frankly Financial columns →

Social Security

The news that affects your check

Upcoming webinars

All webinars
Free Social Security guidance A no-cost consultation with a certified advisor from the AMAC Foundation.