What Would Happen If Social Security Benefits Were Cut in Half?

What Would Happen If Social Security Benefits Were Cut in Half?

Jordan Rosenfeld  Sun, November 23, 2025   GOBankingRates

Social Security works essentially as a safety net to help keep older adults and other vulnerable individuals out of poverty. While President Trump has said he won’t cut Social Security, the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) and the One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA) have made significant changes, including layoffs to Social Security Administration (SSA) staff and tax cuts, leading to questions about the fate of Social Security in the United States.

Additionally, analysts have been discussing for years whether the trust that funds Social Security will remain solvent or run out by the early to mid-2030s. Some have speculated that to truly “save” Social Security, it will be necessary to cut back on recipients’ benefits.

So, what would happen to current and future retirees if the amount that Social Security recipients received were cut in half?

The Immediate Impact

According to George Carrillo, CEO of the Hispanic Construction Council (HCC) and the former director of Social Determinants of Health for the state of Oregon, Social Security is not “just a policy. It is a promise, a lifeline that ensures dignity and security for retirees, disabled workers and their families.”

Having spent years as a senior executive in government managing complex social programs, he knows “just how vital Social Security is for millions of Americans.” A hypothetical 50% cut to these benefits would “unravel that promise, throwing many into financial despair.”

According to Carillo, “For someone who relies on Social Security for half or more of their income, even a partial cut would devastate their ability to meet basic needs like housing, healthcare and food.”

To put that into perspective, the current average monthly benefit is $2,007. A 50% cut would leave retirees with just barely over $1,000. If your income is retirement benefit-based, then reduced benefits could be detrimental to your monthly budget.

Carillo stressed that these are not “theoretical numbers,” but represent real people and families who would be left scrambling to adjust. If the average Social Security recipient’s benefits were reduced by 50%, the impact would be pretty significant.

Who Would Be Hit the Hardest?

TO READ MORE:   https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/social-security-benefits-were-cut-110303911.html