Between March 2020 (i.e., the beginning of the global pandemic) and June 2021, 1.7 million more Americans retired from the workforce than would have normally retired if historical trends had continued (source: Schwartz Center for Economic Policy Analysis).
Social Security trustees announced on 8/31/21 that the trust fund backing the payment of Social Security benefits (OASI retirement benefits) would be zero in 2033. A zero “trust fund” does not mean the payment of Social Security benefits would also go to zero, but rather would drop to 76% of their originally promised levels through the year 2095. When the trustees released their report in 2010 (i.e., 11 years ago), the Social Security Trust Fund was projected to be depleted in 2040 (source: Social Security Trustees 2021 Report).
54 million Americans receive monthly Social Security retirement benefits, including retired workers, dependents of retired workers, and survivors of deceased workers. 42 million Americans receive monthly assistance from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), aka “food stamps” (source: SNAP).