More and more older Americans are worried Social Security won’t be there for them — but that concern looks very different based on political party. Here’s why there’s such a big divide

A partisan divide

That doubt is particularly strong among older Democrats. About half say they’re “not very” or “not at all” confident that Social Security will be there for them. Just a year ago, only one in 10 felt that way. At the time, Democratic President Joe Biden was in the White House.

Older Republicans, on the other hand, are feeling more secure. Six in 10 say they’re “extremely” or “very” confident in the program — up from just one-quarter in 2023

Younger adults show less confidence overall. About half of Americans under 30 say they don’t trust that Social Security will be there when they retire, regardless of political affiliation. But that view hasn’t shifted much since last year.

As of 2025, nearly 69 million Americans will receive a Social Security benefit each month.

Under the Department of Government Efficiency — or DOGE — launched during Donald Trump’s presidency, until recently, led by billionaire Elon Musk, the Social Security Administration was targeted for major restructuring. That included the elimination of 7,000 jobs, the downsizing or closure of field offices and a proposed cut to national phone services — a move that has since been reversed.

At the same time, the SSA is under pressure to act. Without policy changes, it won’t be able to pay full retirement benefits by 2035, according to the 2024 Social Security and Medicare trustees report. If nothing changes, recipients will only receive about 83% of their benefits.

“If anything happens to Social Security, it would really impact me,” Timothy Black, a 52-year-old Democrat from San Diego, told ClickOnDetroit. Black, who receives Social Security Disability Insurance to help manage a chronic illness, says he’s concerned about both his retirement and disability payments.

“If SSDI doesn’t keep up with the cost of living, my medical expenses are only going to grow and I could end up homeless,” he said.

Republican voter, Linda Seck, a 78-year-old retiree from Saline Township, Michigan, told ClickOnDetroit she’s confident the program will last.

“When I was in college, financial planners were telling us not to depend on Social Security,” she said. “But here we are more than 50 years later and it’s still going.”

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How to shore up your retirement savings

Fifty years ago, financial planners may have warned people like Seck not to count on Social Security — and they may have had a point. The program was never intended to be the only source of retirement income. Instead, it was designed to complement personal savings, investments and, when available, pensions.

Whether you’re worried Social Security or not, it still makes sense to take a well-rounded approach to retirement planning. Just like you wouldn’t put all your money into a single stock, you shouldn’t rely on Social Security alone.

Maximize your contributions to retirement accounts: If you have access to a 401(k), try to contribute as much as possible — especially if your employer offers a match. You can also open an individual retirement account (IRA).

A traditional IRA lets you contribute pre-tax dollars and pay taxes when you withdraw in retirement. A Roth IR A uses after-tax dollars but allows tax-free withdrawals after age 59 ½. In both cases, your money grows tax-free. If you’re 50 or older, you can make catch-up contributions too.

Diversify your investments: Don’t get too focused on one type of asset. A mix of stocks, bonds, real estate and other investments can help reduce risk — though no strategy is guaranteed. Ideally, you’ll want investments that don’t all move in the same direction, so a loss in one area might be balanced by gains in another.

Get creative: If you’re still concerned you won’t have enough to retire comfortably, consider picking up a side gig or part-time work. But if you’re collecting Social Security before full retirement age, there’s an earnings limit to keep in mind. In 2025, that limit is $23,400.

You could also explore passive income streams, like renting out a basement apartment or getting a roommate. There are plenty of ways to boost your retirement savings, so no matter what happens — or doesn’t happen — with Social Security, you’ll be better prepared for the years ahead.