In todays age of computerization, the only rule necessary to stabilize the Social Security system is as follows: This month's total SS receipts = next month's total SS distributions To maintain this equilibrium, monthly payments to eligible recipients would be variable rather than fixed. So in good economic periods, recipients checks increase as SS collections increase. In slow economic periods, recipients checks decrease with collections, but they still recieve something as a "safety net. Overall, all boats rise and fall with the same tide. A simpler approach is to adjust the retirement age annually to preserve the same break even solvency. Younger folks may see their retirement age go up from 67 to ~75 or more over the years (and back down at times), but older workers near retirement will not see major delays beyond a few years. No big suprises at the last minute. If you are part of a boom, you will tend to be somewhat delayed compared to those who are part of a bust. Of course, this will create wide swings in the labor market, which wants booms to retire early, and vice versa.
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