New AARP Survey Shows Confidence in the Future of Social Security Among Younger Adults at 15-Year-Low

KenTannenbaum/Getty Images/iStockphoto

CHEYENNE – A new AARP report released last week, ahead of Social Security’s 90th anniversary, reveals Americans’ confidence in the future of Social Security has declined by 7 percentage points in the last five years, from 43% in 2020 to 36% in 2025. This is the lowest level since 2010, when confidence in Social Security was at 35%. Younger adults are generally less confident: just 25% of people ages 18-49 are confident in the program’s future, compared to 48% of those 50 and older.

The report also shows that more than two-thirds of Americans (67%) view Social Security as more important to retirees today than five years ago. Overall, 96% of Americans consider Social Security important, with broad agreement across party lines: 98% of Democrats, 95% of Republicans and 93% of Independents all say the same.

“For 90 years, Social Security has never missed a payment, and Wyomingites should have confidence that it never will,” said AARP Wyoming State Director Sam Shumway. “AARP will never stop fighting to protect the Social Security payments that Wyomingites have earned from a lifetime of hard work.”

Social Security in Wyoming
There are 126,109 people in Wyoming counting on the Social Security they’ve earned to be there when they need it. Seventy-eight percent of those beneficiaries in Wyoming are retired workers with 12% disabled workers, and 7.4% receiving spousal or survivor benefits. Laramie County has the state’s highest number of beneficiaries at 20,655, followed by Natrona (16,835), Park (8,820), and Sheridan (8,285) Counties

More than 41,000 Wyoming residents rely on Social Security for at least 50% of their income, and for 18.918%, it is 90% of their income. The average retired worker payment is $1,950 per month or $23,406 per year. Social Security payments inject $2.7 billion into Wyoming’s economy each year. Niobrara County has the state’s lowest number of beneficiaries at just 650. However, Social Security injects over $13 million into that county’s economy as well.

“If there are any changes in Social Security to the detriment of individuals who receive it like myself and others, I’ll lose my house,” Casper resident Therese told AARP Wyoming last month. “The proceeds that would come from selling the house aren’t enough to get me into a retirement home. I’ve been thinking about this a lot lately and if social security were cut, I don’t know what I would do.”

Social Security’s Impact by County
Beneficiaries Annual Financial Impact

• Albany 5,705; $126.8M
• Big Horn 2,930; $59.8M
• Campbell 7,630; $179M
• Carbon 3,155; $68.1M
• Converse 3,040; $66.8M
• Crook 1,995; $44.3M
• Fremont    9,765;    $202M
• Goshen 3,360; $67.8M
• Hot Springs 1,545; $32.3M
• Johnson 2,605; $55.7M
• Laramie 20,655; $444M
• Lincoln  4,545; $102M
• Natrona 16,835; $374M
• Niobrara 650; $13M
• Park 8,820; $192M
• Platte 2,550; $53.4M
• Sheridan 8,285; $182M
• Sublette 2,005; $45.8M
• Sweetwater 7,895; $183.7M
• Teton 3,675; $99.7M
• Uinta 4,375; $97.8M
• Washakie 2,170; $46.3M
• Weston 1,920; $42.4M

Additional findings from the survey show:

• Nearly two in three (65%) retired Americans say they rely substantially on Social Security, while another 21 percent say they rely on it somewhat. In 2020, 63% of retired Americans said they relied substantially on Social Security, jumping from 58% in both 2015 and 2010.
• More than three-quarters of Americans (78%) are worried that Social Security will not provide enough to live on during retirement. In 2020, 74% of people said the same.
• Sixty-two percent of people think the average Social Security payment of $2,000/month is too low. In 2020, 65% of people thought the average monthly payment was too low, compared to 61% in 2015 and 54% in 2010.
• Consistent with previous surveys, 89% of people believe Social Security makes it possible for older Americans to remain independent.

The Social Security Trustees Report, released in June, showed that if no action is taken by Congress prior to 2034, Social Security will only be able to pay out 81% of promised benefits from then on. According to the report, more than 82 million Americans are projected to be receiving Social Security retirement benefits in 2035.

The 90th anniversary report builds on AARP’s long-standing public opinion research on Social Security and examines how views have changed since 2005 on Social Security’s role in retirement, its importance to future generations, and the barriers Americans face in saving for retirement.

We’re urging Congress to protect and save Social Security. After all, you earn your Social Security through a lifetime of hard work. If you are ready to speak up for Social Security, add your name and pledge to be a part of this fight.

Methodology: AARP commissioned a national survey of 3,599 adults ages 18 and older to understand their attitudes and opinions on Social Security. The interviews were conducted June 18–23, 2025 online and by telephone. The data are weighted by age, gender, census division, race/ethnicity, educational attainment, and AARP membership.