Skip to content

COVID-19’s impact on Social Security and Medicare trust funds

CQ Budget, Ep. 161

While projections vary and remain highly uncertain, economists and policy analysts across the ideological spectrum say Social Security and Medicare trust funds are now likely to deplete their reserves at a quicker pace than they would have before the pandemic hit.
While projections vary and remain highly uncertain, economists and policy analysts across the ideological spectrum say Social Security and Medicare trust funds are now likely to deplete their reserves at a quicker pace than they would have before the pandemic hit. (Tom Williams/CQ Roll Call)

An economic recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic means a drop in payroll tax revenues that finance the Social Security and Medicare trust funds. CQ Roll Call’s David Lerman and Jennifer Shutt discuss how quickly the funds could be depleted and what Congress might do to save them. They also give a preview of the appropriations process that begins in the House next week.

Show Notes:

Recent Stories

Trump hits cultural issues in midterms pep talk to Turning Point crowd

Former House member David McKinley dies at 79

Resign of the times  — Congressional Hits and Misses

A week of lots of noise, few results in Congress

RFK Jr. distances himself from measles outbreak, bashes Tylenol study

Senate sends short-term surveillance reauthorization to Trump