“Measure of Millennials,” a new study released by the iOMe Challenge organization, shows that 50% of Millennials do not believe that Social Security will exist when they reach their retirement years.
The study of a representative sample of 642 18-29 year-olds across the U.S. was conducted in August by the St. Norbert College Strategic Research Institute. In addition to the 50% who do not think Social Security will exist, 28% of Millennials think that Social Security will exist, but that the benefits will be much smaller than today. Only 5% think Social Security will exist at the same benefit level as today, and 18% are not sure what will happen with Social Security by the time they retire.
“When the views of Millennials on the future of social security are juxtaposed with employers’ shift from a defined benefit retirement to a defined-contribution model, it is clear that for Millennials, financing their retirement is going to rest far more on their individual shoulders,” said David Wegge, chair of the iOMe Challenge and executive director of the St. Norbert College Strategic Research Institute.