o


 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 
CWA represents workers in private and public sector employment in 1,200 chartered CWA local unions. CWA members work in communications and information industries, the news media, the airlines, broadcast and cable television, public service, higher education and health care, manufacturing, in high tech and more.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Connect with your Union.  Go to 7102 Contacts/Email to find out how.  
 Local active member meetings are 6:30 PM  on the 2nd Thursday.
 May not be scheduled every month.
 Local retiree member meetings are on the 2nd Thursday. See
 More info (and updated meeting times at) at Central Iowa CWA Retiree Committee
 At the Machinist Hall  2000 Walker St. Des Moines 50317
--_More retiree Info can be found in the Local News section.
_____________________________________________________________________
 Support U. S. Jobs
Corporations are shifting call center jobs overseas or to Ai.
We need your help supporting a bipartisan bill to protect CWA Jobs
Contact Congress >
_____________________________________________________________________

Thinking ahead for retirement.

Social Security isn’t going away — but if Congress does nothing, people who are not yet retired face the highest risk of benefit cuts, delayed retirement ages, or higher taxes.
The trust fund is projected to be unable to pay full benefits by 2033, leaving only ~77% of scheduled benefits payable.

🧭 The Major Risks for Those Not Yet Retired

🟡 1. Automatic Benefit Cuts (~23%) Starting 2033

If lawmakers fail to act, the OASI trust fund will only be able to pay 77% of promised benefits.

  • This cut would apply mostly to future retirees, not current ones.
  • Workers in their 40s–60s (Gen X especially) are the most exposed.

🟡 2. Higher Full Retirement Age (FRA)

Historically, when Social Security needed fixing, Congress raised the retirement age (from 65 → 67 in 1983).

  • A future fix could raise FRA to 68 or 69 for people not yet retired.
  • This reduces lifetime benefits even if monthly checks look similar.

🟡 3. Higher Taxes on Benefits or Payroll

Congress could:

  • Increase payroll taxes
  • Raise the cap on taxable wages
  • Increase taxation of benefits (currently up to 85%)

These changes would fall mostly on current workers, not current retirees.

🟡 4. Reduced COLAs (Cost‑of‑Living Adjustments)

A switch to a slower inflation formula (like chained CPI) would:

  • Lower annual increases
  • Compound over time
  • Hit future retirees hardest

🟡 5. Pressure to Claim Early

Surveys show fear of Social Security running out pushes people to claim early — which permanently reduces benefits.

  • 74% of Americans worry Social Security will run out in their lifetime.
  • Early claiming reduces monthly checks for life.

🟡 6. Changes Already Scheduled for 2026

New adjustments coming in 2026 will affect:

  • High earners
  • Some workers still paying into the system

These aren’t catastrophic, but they show Congress is already tweaking the system.

🧩 Why People Not Yet Retired Face the Biggest Risk

Congress historically protects:

  • Current retirees
  • People close to retirement

That means:

  • Younger and mid‑career workers absorb most future changes.
  • Fixes are usually phased in over decades — hitting those who haven’t claimed yet.

___________________________________________________________________________

CWA Radio / Podcast
CWAs Hour of Power Radio Show is a justice-filled hour of talk, solidarty,
and work power.
Listen Live or check out the show archive
Listen >
   


About CWA

CWA was founded in 1938 at meetings in Chicago and New Orleans. First known as the National Federation of Telephone Workers, the union became the Communications Workers of America in 1947.

CWA got its start in the telephone industry, but today it represents workers in the United States, Puerto Rico, and Canada in the communications and information industries, as well as the news media, the airline industry, broadcast and cable television, public service, higher education, health care, manufacturing, high tech fields, and more.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------