Social Security

How long do you think it will be until the costs of the Medicare and Social Security programs create a crisis for the federal government -- are they already creating a crisis, will they create a crisis within the next 10 years, within 10 to 20 years, in more than 20 years, or not for the foreseeable future?

(Asked of nonretired adults) When you retire, how much do you expect to rely on each of the following sources of money -- will it be a major source of income, a minor source of income, or not a source at all? How about -- [READ A-J IN ORDER]?

BASED ON NONRETIREES

A. Social Security

(Asked of adults who are retired) How much do you rely on each of the following sources of income today -- is it a major source of income, a minor source of income, or not a source at all? How about -- [READ A-J IN ORDER]?

BASED ON RETIREES

A. Social Security

Next, I'm going to read a list of problems facing the country. For each one, please tell me if you personally worry about this problem a great deal, a fair amount, only a little, or not at all? First, how much do you personally worry about -- [The Social Security system]?

Now I'd like to ask you about the major entitlement programs the government is committed to, including Social Security and Medicare. Do you think the cost of these programs will create major economic problems for the U.S. in the next 25 years if no changes are made to them, or not?

(Asked of those who think entitlement problems will create economic problems) Which of the following would you favor as a way to address economic problems created by major entitlement programs such as Social Security and Medicare -- [ROTATED: Cutting back on benefits the government provides future retirees and not increasing taxes, increasing taxes and not cutting back on benefits the government provides future retirees,] or a combination of both benefit cuts and tax increases?

BASED ON WHO THINK ENTITLEMENT PROGRAMS WILL CREATE PROBLEMS IN THE ECONOMY

If the cost of major entitlement programs does create major economic problems for the U.S., do you think the government should or should not do each of the following to deal with the situation? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Raise taxes

B. Cut benefits

Do you think the Social Security system will be able to pay you a benefit when you retire?

BASED ON NON-RETIRED ADULTS

Do you think the Social Security system will be able to continue to pay you full benefits, or do you think there will eventually be cuts in your benefits?

BASED ON RETIRED ADULTS

Which of these statements do you think best describes the Social Security system -- it is in a state of crisis, it has major problems, it has minor problems, or it does not have any problems?

Assuming there would be no change in Social Security benefits for those who are now age 55 or older, do you think each of the following would be a good idea or a bad idea to address concerns with the Social Security system? How about -- [RANDOM ORDER]?

A. Increasing the age at which people are eligible to receive full retirement benefits

B. Limiting benefits for wealthy retirees

C. Further reducing the total amount of benefits a person would receive if they retired early

D. Increasing Social Security taxes for all workers

E. Requiring higher-income workers to pay Social Security taxes on ALL of their wages

F. Reducing retirement benefits for people who are currently under age 55

If you had to choose one of the following approaches to ensuring Social Security's long-term future, would you rather -- [ROTATED: raise Social Security taxes (or) curb the amount of benefits for future Social Security recipients]?

How much planning would you say you've done for your retirement-enough planning considering your present age, some but not enough planning considering your present age, or no planning at all?

BASED ON NON-RETIRED ADULTS

Based on what you have heard or read, in general, do you approve or disapprove of George W. Bush's approach to addressing the Social Security system?

As you may know, a proposal has been made that would allow workers to invest part of their Social Security taxes in the stock market or in bonds, while the rest of those taxes would remain in the Social Security system. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

Do you think -- [ROTATED: George W. Bush/the Democrats in Congress/the Republicans in Congress] -- has/have proposed a clear plan for addressing the Social Security system, has/have proposed a plan, but one that is not clear to you, or has/have not proposed a specific plan for addressing the Social Security system?

Do you think the federal government should make major changes in the Social Security system to ensure its long-term future -- in the next year or two, within the next ten years, or do you think major changes are not needed within the next ten years?

As you may know, a proposal has been made that would curb Social Security benefits for middle income workers in the future, curb them even more for higher income workers, but would not affect benefits for lower income workers and those born before 1950. Do you favor or oppose this proposal?

If you had to choose, which of the following do you think would be best for you in the long run -- [ROTATED: Congress passes a Social Security reform plan this year that most Republicans support, (or) Congress passes a Social Security reform plan this year that most Democrats support], or Congress does not pass a plan this year?

Do you think it is possible to ensure the long-term future of the Social Security system without either raising YOUR taxes or cutting YOUR Social Security benefits, or is that not possible?

Based on what you have heard or read, do you think the proposals for Social Security made by George W. Bush would -- [ROTATED: cut the amount of Social Security benefits you, personally, will receive, (or) protect the amount of Social Security benefits you, personally, will receive]?

How worried are you that the Republicans will go too far in changing the Social Security system -- very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not at all worried?

How worried are you that the Democrats will not go far enough to change the Social Security system -- very worried, somewhat worried, not too worried, or not at all worried?

Just your best guess, if you had to choose, do you think the Democrats are -- [ROTATED: mainly trying to use the Social Security issue to hurt the Republican Party in the next elections, (or are they) mainly trying to ensure the long-term stability of the Social Security system]?

Just your best guess, if you had to choose, do you think George W. Bush is -- [ROTATED: trying to ensure the long-term stability of the Social Security system, (or is he) trying to dismantle the Social Security system]?

ASKED OF A HALF SAMPLE

Do you think political leaders in this country are -- [ROTATED: moving too slowly, (or) moving at an appropriate pace] -- in taking up legislation to change the Social Security system?

Who do you think is mostly to blame for this -- [ROTATED: George W. Bush and the Republicans in Congress, (or) the Democrats in Congress]?

BASED ON ADULTS WHO SAY POLITICAL LEADERS ARE MOVING TOO SLOWLY IN TAKING UP LEGISLATION TO CHANGE THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM

Would you say you understand the current debate over the future of the Social Security system very well, somewhat well, not too well, or not at all?

Do you think it is -- or is not -- necessary for Congress and the president to pass legislation this year to make changes to the Social Security system?

Suppose Congress and the president do pass legislation to make changes to the Social Security system this year. Do you think that legislation should -- or should not -- include a provision that would allow people who retire in future decades to invest some of their Social Security taxes in the stock market and bonds?

Which do you think is riskier for average American workers today -- [ROTATED: investing some of their Social Security taxes in stocks and bonds, (or) relying on the Social Security system to pay them the current level of benefits when they retire]?

BASED ON 482 NATIONAL ADULTS IN FORM B

Do you think the Social Security system will -- or will not -- be bankrupt by the year 2042 if major changes are not made to the system?

How well do you understand the details you have heard or read so far about the debate over Social Security reform in this country? Would you say you understand -- most of those details, many of them, a few of them, or none of them at all?

Suppose Americans were allowed to invest a portion of all the Social Security taxes that they paid in their lifetime in stocks and bonds. When they retired, do you think most Americans would receive -- [ROTATED: higher Social Security benefits than the government would provide, about the same benefits, or lower Social Security benefits than the government would provide]?

What about you? Do you think that if you had invested a portion of all the Social Security taxes that you have paid in your lifetime in stocks and bonds that you would receive -- [ROTATED: higher Social Security benefits than the government would provide, about the same benefits, or lower Social Security benefits than the government would provide]?

Are you, or is your spouse, currently collecting Social Security retirement benefits, or not?

How much do you currently rely on Social Security -- [ROTATED: as your main source of income, as a minor source of income, or not at all]?

BASED ON RETIRED ADULTS