45% of Gen Z expect to get nothing from Social Security

In total, 75% of respondents expressed concern about a funding shortfall.

By Ben Whedon

Published: August 22, 2023 3:21pm

A plurality of Gen Z adults think they will never receive any money from Social Security, the nation's New Deal Era retirement pension system.

45% of adults between the ages of 18 and 26 agreed with the statement "I will not get a dime of the Social Security benefits I have earned," in a survey from the Nationwide Retirement Institute. A further 39% of Millennials agreed, while 25% of Gen X said the same, as did 10% of Baby Boomers.

The program has come under intense scrutiny amid mounting concerns over the rising national debt. One of the big ticket budget items, Americans are increasingly worried that Social Security will run short of funds in their lifetime.

In total, 75% of respondents expressed concern about a funding shortfall, compared to 66% who did so in 2014. That sentiment was strong in Gen Z, with 74% of that block expressing concern, compared to 73% of Millennials, 82% of Gen X, and 71% of Baby Boomers.

Conducted May 18-June 13, the survey questioned 1,806 U.S adults.

Ben Whedon is an editor and reporter for Just the News. Follow him on Twitter.