Gene Epstein of Barron’s explains that older workers are more likely to stay in the work force longer, resulting in higher revenues for social security than current projections.
He calculates that revenues will exceed expenses in the social security trust fund beginning in 2018, rather than the federal government’s current forecase of 2016.
It’s a pretty interesting idea, and seems to have some merit. Older workers working longer is a long-term trend over the last few decades. That trend should only be strengthened by older workers with 401(k)’s and other stock-based accounts that have lost significant value over the last 18 months.