NARSSA pushes Senate candidates on Social Security plan

The National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts is urging voters and the media to press U.S. Senate candidates for specific answers on Social Security before the Nov. 3 election. The group says the issue is urgent as the latest trustees report projects a financing shortfall that could cut future benefits unless Congress acts.

Why it matters: - Social Security is one of the largest financial issues facing American families, and the next Senate will help shape whether Congress addresses the program’s funding gap in time to avoid benefit cuts. - NARSSA says candidates should move beyond broad promises to “protect Social Security” and spell out who would pay more, who would receive less and when changes would take effect. - The organization argues that earlier action would give lawmakers more options to phase in changes gradually and fairly.

What happened: - The National Association of Registered Social Security Analysts, known as NARSSA, issued a call to action for U.S. Senate candidates ahead of the Nov. 3 election. - NARSSA asked voters and the media to demand specific answers about Social Security’s future. - The group released 10 questions it says every Senate candidate should answer before Election Day.

The details: - The 2026 Social Security Trustees Report projects that the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance Trust Fund will have enough reserves to pay 100% of scheduled benefits only until the fourth quarter of 2032. - After that point, continuing program income would cover about 78% of scheduled OASI benefits if Congress does nothing. - On a combined basis, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance and Disability Insurance funds are projected to last until 2034, when about 83% of scheduled benefits could be paid. - The trustees have recommended timely congressional action so changes can be phased in gradually and workers and beneficiaries can adjust. - NARSSA said Social Security will not “run out of money” in 2032, but a financing shortfall would still force a reduction in scheduled benefits without reform. - NARSSA’s questions ask whether candidates would support additional revenue, benefit changes or both; whether they would raise payroll taxes or the taxable wage cap; and whether they would change the full retirement age, benefit formula or cost-of-living adjustments. - The list also asks how candidates would protect current beneficiaries, workers near retirement, younger workers, survivors, spouses with lower lifetime earnings and people with disabilities. - One question asks what a candidate would do if Congress had not enacted reform before OASI reserves are depleted.

Between the lines: - The release is a political pressure campaign as much as a policy memo. - NARSSA is trying to force candidates to take positions on tradeoffs that are often left vague during campaigns. - The framing suggests the group sees delay as a political choice with practical costs, not a neutral wait-and-see strategy.

What's next: - Senate candidates will likely be pressed to answer whether they favor acting in the 2027-2033 Senate term or waiting until the depletion date is closer. - Voters and reporters now have a specific checklist to use in debates, interviews and campaign events. - The debate over Social Security financing will continue after the election unless Congress reaches a bipartisan fix.

The bottom line: - NARSSA wants Senate candidates to stop speaking in slogans and start naming the Social Security fixes they would support.