Government

Comparing the Impact of Joe Biden and Donald Trump's Social Security Plans on Retirement

Published March 24, 2024

As the race for the presidency heats up, the two presumptive nominees of the major political parties, Joe Biden and Donald Trump, are under the microscope for their plans regarding a critical component of American retirement: Social Security. With millions of current and future retirees relying on this program, the candidates’ proposals could have far-reaching implications for retirement benefits across the nation.

Joe Biden's Social Security Strategy

Joe Biden intends to safeguard and enhance Social Security for both current and future beneficiaries. His approach includes increasing benefits for the oldest beneficiaries, who are most at risk of depleting their savings, and providing a higher minimum benefit for lifelong workers. Biden's plan also seeks to make the program more solvent by applying payroll taxes to those earning more than $400,000, thus requiring high-income individuals to contribute more.

Donald Trump's Approach to Social Security

During his tenure, President Donald Trump has not introduced specific policy changes to Social Security. Nonetheless, he has expressed a commitment to sustaining the program without outlining how he intends to address its long-term funding challenges. Moreover, the tax policies implemented during his presidency, which include cutting payroll taxes, have raised concerns among experts about how they may potentially affect the program's financial health if made permanent.

The debate over Social Security is not purely theoretical. Any potential modification to the program will directly influence the lives of retirees. Thus, understanding how each candidate's plans may affect this critical safety net is essential, particularly for those invested in retirement-focused financial vehicles or for investors keeping an eye on sectors sensitive to policy changes in this arena.

SocialSecurity, Retirement, Policy