Social Security Cuts Could Hit Pennsylvania Retirees in 2032

A new trustees report says Social Security’s trust funds are projected to run short by the end of 2032, which could lead to benefit cuts unless Congress acts.

AARP Pennsylvania says nearly 3 million people in the state rely on Social Security — more than one in five residents.

Bill Johnston-Walsh, state director of AARP Pennsylvania, said lawmakers need to ensure the program has the money it needs to keep pace with growing demand. He said retirees could lose nearly 20% of their monthly payments if the trust funds are depleted.

“They'll probably only get about 83% of their scheduled benefits,” Johnston-Walsh said. “So that means, for example, if you're getting a monthly check for $1,000, you'll only get about $830 instead.”

AARP wants Congress to protect and strengthen Social Security without cutting benefits people have paid into throughout their working lives. Johnston-Walsh said Social Security pumps about $66.8 billion into Pennsylvania’s economy each year, helping people cover basic needs, supporting local businesses and allowing older adults to stay independent and remain at home.

Johnston-Walsh said almost 40% of fully retired people in Pennsylvania rely only on Social Security. He noted the program has been around for 90 years and has paid its benefits in full during that time.

“Social Security will be here. People should not be worried about that,” Johnston-Walsh said. “I think that what needs to be done is people need to start asking the questions to Congress, ‘What are you going to be doing so that we can shore up Social Security as we move into the future?’”

AARP also opposes raising the retirement age and privatizing Social Security, Johnston-Walsh said.

According to the trustees report, Social Security paid more than $1 trillion in benefits in 2025, with nearly 70 million beneficiaries by year’s end.