Worry about US Social Security system has hit 15-year high, Gallup poll finds
Social security benefits to rise 2.5% in 2025
Social Security recipients will receive a 2.5% increase in their monthly checks in 2025. Analysts had predicted a 2.5% bump for 2025, which is smaller than increases in the previous two years and reflects moderating inflation. Recipients received a 3.2% increase in their benefits in 2024, after a historically large 8.7% benefit increase in 2023, brought on by record 40-year-high inflation.
WASHINGTON - A new poll reveals that economic issues continue to dominate Americans’ national concerns, with majorities expressing "a great deal" of personal worry about the economy, healthcare availability and affordability, inflation and Social Security.
The poll surveyed more than 1,000 adults, living in all 50 U.S. states between March 3-16, 2025.
Social security concerns rise significantly, poll finds
By the numbers:
The poll found that public concern about Social Security is up significantly, with Social Security registering a 15-year high.
When asked where the respondent personally worries about the issue of Social Security "a great deal, a fair amount, only a little or not at all," 52% of respondents answered "a great deal" and 24% said "a fair amount."
FILE - Emails show the Social Security Administration canceled a vital contract in Maine to punish the state's governor for defying the Trump administration (Photo illustration by Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
High-level worry about Social Security has risen by nine percentage points since last year.
Other top-ranking worries among Americans include the economy (60% worry a great deal), healthcare costs (59%), inflation (56%), federal spending and the budget deficit (53%).
The other side:
Meanwhile, the concerns about crime, drug use, immigration, and the availability and affordability of energy has decreased when the last measure of President Joe Biden’s term in 2024 is compared with the first measure of President Donald Trump’s second term this year.
Democrats’ worries increase across the board, as Republicans’ ease
Dig deeper:
The degree to which Democrats and Republicans worry about many issues has differed, with each group generally worrying more when the sitting president is from the opposing political party and less when a president of their own party is in the White House.
Gallup noted that this pattern has been particularly evident since 2017.
As Trump has replaced Joe Biden, the data showed that Democrats have become significantly more worried about 10 of the 14 issues measured last year, while Republicans have become less worried about 12.
The steepest drops in Republican concern are seen for inflation (-18 points), possible U.S. terrorist attacks (-17 points) and the economy and energy affordability (-16 points each).
The only issue on which Republican concern did not decrease was healthcare availability and affordability.
Social Security Fairness Act signed earlier this year
The backstory:
In early January, then-President Biden signed a bill to boost Social Security for nearly 3 million people.
The signing of the Social Security Fairness Act repeals two stipulations that limited Social Security benefits for some recipients.
RELATED: Social Security Fairness Act signed: What to know
The measure would repeal provisions that reduce certain Social Security benefits for individuals who receive other benefits, such as a pension from a state or local government, according to the bill summary.
These people receive pensions from their time as teachers, firefighters, police officers and in other public service jobs.
The change is to payments from January 2024 and beyond, meaning the Social Security Administration would owe back-dated payments.
The Source: The information for this story was provided by a Gallup poll, which was based on telephone interviews conducted by ReconMR between March 3-16, 2025, with a random sample of 1,002 adults, aged 18 and older, living in all 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia. This story was reported from Los Angeles.