A Business-Friendly Way to Make Social Security Actuarially Sound

In Social Security Trends and Data there are numerous charts showing the unsustainable nature of the system as it is currently structured. But ensuring the solvency of Social Security is not that difficult a problem (at least in comparison to Medicare or public sector pensions). Numerous things could be done to put the system in the green.

This post will review the background of social security finance, then address what can be done to make the system Actuarially Sound.

Here is one key chart, showing that since 1999 the payout per worker has almost doubled, from $2,995 per year on average, to $5,859 per year.

Social Security Burden on Non-Farm Workers

Accrued Interest on Accrued Promises

Social Security assets are nothing but IOUs, and interest income is actually interest on money long since spent.

The entire “Trust Fund” is nothing but a promise to pay. There are no real assets (other than the ability to raise taxes to meet current expenses). Everything else is just a promise, and even more absurdly, accrued interest on accrued promises.

Imagination

The key point is Social Security is now cash flow negative although imaginary assets have increased in value, based on imaginary interest, and imaginary ability of taxpayers to forever keep meeting escalating payouts.

Here is another chart from my earlier post Social Security Trends and Data

Total Annual Cost of Social Security 1967-Present

Social Security Beneficiaries vs. Total Non-Farm Employment

Here is the chart from the Social Security Administration that shows the system is cash-flow negative even though alleged assets have increased in value.

Trust Fund Data

Payroll Tax Cut

The system turned cash flow negative in Fiscal Year 2012, far earlier than anyone expected, primarily because of the payroll tax cut. However, that cut was rescinded in the Fiscal Cliff agreement so the system will temporarily be back in the green this year.

Looking ahead, and ignoring accrued interest on imaginary assets what can be done to make the system solvent?

As noted earlier, Social Security is not that difficult a problem (at least in comparison to Medicare), except for the politics of it all. Numerous things could be done to put the system in the green.

Possible Ways to Make Social Security Actuarially Sound

1. Raise retirement age
2. Raise or eliminate the cap on payroll taxes
3. Cut benefits
4. Collect Social Security on personal income
5. Implement a Tiered Cap structure
6. Means Testing

Democrats would oppose 1 and 3. Republicans might oppose all but 3. Pragmatists might want to do all of them.

Business Point of View

Let’s leave politics aside and discuss this from a business point of view. Is it possible to decrease the burden on businesses while not hurting those making less than $250,000 a year?

There is no free lunch of course, but think about the possibility of a tiered cap structure.

• Leave the existing tax cap as it is, but after a gap (at say $250,000 or $500,000) start collecting taxes again.
• No business contribution on amounts collected on the highest tier.
• Reduce business contributions across the board by 33% of the additional revenues collected on the highest tier

This would get revenue Democrats desperately want, while also reducing burden on businesses that Republicans desperately want. Businesses would benefit, and the only cost would be to those making above the gap.

Who Benefits?

• Large and medium-sized businesses would easily benefit from lower payroll taxes.
• Small business owners making less than the top cap would benefit from reduced payroll taxes.
• Small businesses owners making more than the top tier might still benefit more from reduced corporate taxes than they lose in personal taxes (provided they have enough employees).

The only losers in this proposal are those making more than the top gap, while not hiring enough employees to make up the difference.

In Return

In return for agreeing to this hike in revenues, Republicans could and should demand benefit cuts, a raise in retirement age, cuts in Medicare, or some other incentive.

Means Testing

Social Security was meant to be an insurance program for those unable to take cared of themselves after retirement. As such, should anyone with hundreds of thousands of dollars in annual interest income or millions of dollars in liquid assets collect social security payments after retirement?

If not, those disbursements not paid out can also be used to reduce taxes on businesses or to increase survivor benefits.

One of the blatant flaws in the system happens to married couples where one person dies leaving a spouse with only one check instead of two. When this happens, especially if both checks are small, the survivor is often placed in a situation where he or she can no longer afford their house and other expenses.

It should be possible to rectify the above situation as part of Social Security restructuring.

Pragmatism vs. Beliefs

While most everyone considers tax hikes to be a last resort, as a pragmatist, we may assume tax hikes are coming regardless of whether or not they should. This proposal has the advantage of offering something to Republicans, something to Democrats, and a lot to businesses, only impacting those making more than the top cap (which of course should be inflation-adjusted).

By the way, this line of thinking can be applied to things other than just social security. A portion of all tax hikes can go to reduced payroll tax burdens on businesses.