Helping people access benefits, addressing systemic disadvantages, and updating benefits and program administration could strengthen Social Security for current and future beneficiaries.

Without effective policies in place, raising the EEA or keeping the EEA at 62 and reducing benefits could create hardship for many older Americans.

Repealing Social Security’s Windfall Elimination Provision and Government Pension Offset would benefit people with the most resources while placing the burden of Social Security’s long-term financing on people with lower incomes.

The retirement outlook differs for well-educated older adults and those without a college degree.

If the Social Security trust fund were depleted, the number of beneficiaries living in poverty would increase by more than 50 percent, and people of color and those with lower incomes would be most affected.