2005 OASDI Trustees Report
2005 OASDI Trustees Report |
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The report's major findings are summarized below.
In 2004
At the end of 2004, 48 million people were receiving benefits: 33 million retired workers and their dependents, 7 million survivors of deceased workers, and 8 million disabled workers and their dependents. During the year an estimated 157 million people had earnings covered by Social Security and paid payroll taxes. Total benefits paid in 2004 were $493 billion. Income was $658 billion, and assets held in special issue U.S. Treasury securities grew to $1.7 trillion.
Short-Range Results
The OASI and DI Trust Funds, individually and combined, are adequately financed over the next 10 years under the intermediate assumptions. The combined assets of the OASI and DI Trust Funds are projected to increase from $1,687 billion at the beginning of 2005, or 320 percent of annual expenditures, to $3,697 billion at the beginning of 2014, or 417 percent of annual expenditures in that year. Combined assets were projected in last year's report to rise to 325 percent of annual expenditures at the beginning of 2005, and 446 percent at the beginning of 2014.
Long-Range Results
Under the intermediate assumptions, OASDI cost will increase rapidly between about 2010 and 2030, due to the retirement of the large baby-boom generation. After 2030, increases in life expectancy and relatively low fertility rates will continue to increase Social Security system costs, but more slowly. Annual cost will exceed tax income starting in 2017 at which time the annual gap will be covered with cash from redeeming special obligations of the Treasury, until these assets are exhausted in 2041. Separately, the DI fund is projected to be exhausted in 2027 and the OASI fund in 2043. For the 75-year projection period, the actuarial deficit is 1.92 percent of taxable payroll, 0.04 percentage point larger than in last year's report. The open group unfunded obligation for OASDI over the 75-year period is $4.0 trillion in present value, $0.3 trillion more than the unfunded obligation estimated a year ago.
The OASDI annual cost rate is projected to increase from 11.13 percent of taxable payroll in 2005, to 16.74 percent in 2030, and to 19.08 percent in 2079, or to a level that is 5.70 percent of taxable payroll more than the projected income rate for 2079. Expressed in relation to the projected gross domestic product (GDP), OASDI cost is estimated to rise from the current level of 4.3 percent of GDP, to 6.1 percent in 2030, and to 6.4 percent in 2079.
Conclusion
Annual cost will begin to exceed tax income in 2017 for the combined OASDI Trust Funds, which are projected to become insolvent (i.e., unable to pay scheduled benefits in full on a timely basis) when assets are exhausted in 2041 under the long-range intermediate assumptions. For the trust funds to remain solvent throughout the 75-year projection period, the combined payroll tax rate could be increased during the period in a manner equivalent to an immediate and permanent increase of 1.92 percentage points, benefits could be reduced during the period in a manner equivalent to an immediate and permanent reduction of 12.8 percent, general revenue transfers equivalent to $4.0 trillion (in present value) could be made during the period, or some combination of approaches could be adopted. Significantly larger changes would be required to maintain solvency beyond 75 years.
The projected trust fund deficits should be addressed in a timely way to allow for a gradual phasing in of the necessary changes and to provide advance notice to workers. The sooner adjustments are made the smaller and less abrupt they will have to be. Social Security plays a critical role in the lives of 48 million beneficiaries, and 159 million covered workers and their families. With informed discussion, creative thinking, and timely legislative action, we will ensure that Social Security continues to protect future generations.
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