AP Poll: Social Security Confidence Drops Among Seniors/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ An AP-NORC poll finds a sharp decline in confidence among older Democrats that Social Security will remain available to them, amid sweeping cuts and restructuring under the Trump administration. Republican seniors, by contrast, report growing optimism. With the 2026 midterms approaching, Social Security has reemerged as a central political battleground.
Social Security Confidence Quick Looks
- Poll Shift: 3 in 10 older Americans lack confidence in future benefits.
- Party Divide: Older Democrats’ confidence has plunged; GOP seniors more optimistic.
- Policy Changes: Trump’s administration and Elon Musk push SSA restructuring and cuts.
- Musk’s Comments: Controversial “Ponzi scheme” remark sparks backlash.
- SSA Leadership: Frank Bisignano confirmed as new Social Security chief.
- Voter Impact: Democrats make Social Security a key 2026 election issue.
- Youth Skepticism: Half of adults under 30 doubt benefits will be there.
- Disability Concern: Cuts could affect SSDI and vulnerable populations.
- Funding Reality: SSA may only pay 83% of benefits by 2035.
- Public Response: Town halls flood with opposition to proposed changes.
Deep Look: Older Americans Grow Anxious Over Social Security Amid Restructuring and Political Uncertainty
As the Trump administration pushes sweeping reforms and staffing cuts at the Social Security Administration, a new AP-NORC poll reveals a growing sense of unease among older Americans—particularly Democrats—about whether their benefits will be there when they need them.
According to the poll, conducted in April, 30% of adults aged 60 or older say they are “not very” or “not at all” confident that Social Security will be available to them. That’s up from 20% in 2023, signaling a significant erosion in trust.
The anxiety is especially acute among older Democrats, where confidence levels have collapsed since President Joe Biden left office. Just one year ago, only 10% of Democrats 60+ doubted the system’s sustainability. That figure has now soared to 50%.
Partisan Divide Grows Wider
In a stark contrast, older Republicans’ confidence in Social Security has risen sharply. 60% of GOP voters over 60 now say they are “extremely” or “very confident” the program will deliver benefits—more than double the share from 2023.
Observers point to the change in presidential leadership and differing party narratives on entitlement reform. Under Biden, Democrats were largely reassured by protective rhetoric around Social Security. Under Trump, that confidence has flipped as deep cuts and mass federal layoffs reshape the agency.
The cuts have been overseen by the Department of Government Efficiency, led by controversial billionaire Elon Musk, who is reportedly preparing to step down. Earlier this year, Musk referred to Social Security as a “Ponzi scheme” during an interview with Joe Rogan—a remark that generated widespread backlash.
Musk’s Comments Spark Concern
Even some Republicans were rattled by Musk’s comments.
Dennis Riera, a 65-year-old security official in Huntington Beach, California, said he’s now unsure when he can retire. “It’s really a shame that something so many people have relied on for generations is being undermined,” he said.
But others, like Linda Seck, a 78-year-old Republican retiree in Michigan, feel confident. “Financial planners warned me not to depend on Social Security 50 years ago,” she said. “But here we are, and it’s still going.”
Democrats Make Social Security a 2026 Priority
With the midterm elections looming, Social Security has become a top-tier issue for Democrats, who accuse Trump and congressional Republicans of gutting a critical safety net for the sake of tax cuts.
President Biden recently warned that Trump has “taken a hatchet” to the program, while prominent Democrats like Sens. Mark Kelly and Cory Booker are campaigning aggressively in vulnerable Republican districts.
“Why are Republicans jumping through hoops to slash Medicaid and food stamps just to pay for tax breaks for Elon Musk?” asked House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries.
In Tucson, Arizona, Booker told residents, “Just three House Republicans could block this. One of them is right here. If they don’t change their vote, voters need to change their congressperson.”
Disability Payments in Jeopardy
Timothy Black, a 52-year-old San Diego resident on Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), said the cuts threaten not just retirees, but also the disabled. “If SSDI doesn’t keep up with the cost of living, my medical expenses could make me homeless,” he said.
Experts note that SSDI recipients and low-income seniors would be among the hardest hit by the proposed eligibility restrictions and office closures—many of which are located in rural or underserved communities.
Funding Crunch Approaches
The 2024 Trustees Report projects that the Social Security trust fund will be unable to pay full benefits by 2035. At that point, the agency would still be able to pay 83% of scheduled benefits, though public misconceptions persist that the program will go entirely bankrupt.
Currently, over 72 million Americans—including retirees, disabled individuals, and children—rely on Social Security.
Younger Americans Still Skeptical
The poll also found deep skepticism among younger adults, with half of Americans under 30 saying they don’t believe Social Security will be available to them. That level of distrust has remained steady since 2023, regardless of the administration in power.
Only 2 in 10 Republicans under 60 are confident in the program’s long-term viability.
Steven Peters, a 42-year-old independent from Tennessee, summed it up: “I’ve heard for years Social Security’s going broke. I’m not confident at all. I can’t say it’s about Trump or Biden—it’s just the way it’s always felt.”
New Leadership, Unclear Direction
This week, the Senate confirmed Frank Bisignano, a Wall Street executive, as the new Social Security Administration commissioner in a narrow 53–47 vote. He was sworn in on Wednesday and will now be tasked with navigating the agency through both political turbulence and operational strain.
Whether Bisignano’s leadership can rebuild public trust—or whether the political fight over Social Security becomes even more central in 2026—remains to be seen.
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