Social Security is a crucial income source for current retirees. Sadly, many future retirees don’t think that the retirement benefits program is going to provide for their needs the way it has for seniors since the program was created by President Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) in 1935.

While 43% were confident Social Security would be there for them in 2020, just 36% have confidence as of the 2025 survey. The confidence rate in the future of Social Security has not been so low since 2010, when only 35% thought Social Security was a reliable source of income.

💵💰Don’t miss the move: Subscribe to TheStreet’s free daily newsletter 💰💵 

Young people are especially concerned about the benefits program. This isn’t really surprising, because all reports indicate the Social Security trust fund is going to run dry around 2034, at which time enough revenue will keep coming in due to Social Security taxes to pay only 81% of promised benefits. 

Younger people are more likely to be affected, since in most circumstances, they won’t have even claimed Social Security by then.

Amid this troubling data, AARP CEO Myechia Minter-Jordan had a blunt nine-word warning to share in a conference call discussing the study.

Future retirees’ trust in Social Security is declining.

Image source: Getty Images

AARP CEO has a strong warning about Social Security

Minter-Jordan did not hold back when emphasizing some of the biggest fears raised by the new Social Security confidence survey.

She used these nine powerful words: “We’re concerned that faith in the system…is waning.”

“We’re concerned about their confidence that they will be able to receive benefits that they have paid into over time,” Minter-Jordan added.

More on retirement:

• Dave Ramsey offers urgent thoughts about Medicare
• Jean Chatzky shares major statement on Social Security
• Tony Robbins has blunt words on IRAs,401(k)s

Unfortunately, this is a huge problem, because preserving and protecting Social Security relies on a high level of public support.

Right now, around 87% of Americans believe Social Security should be a top priority for the government, regardless of budget deficits.

Why public trust in Social Security matters so much

Current support for preserving and protecting Social Security is consistent and strong across party lines, with 90% of Democrats, 86% of Republicans, and 88% of Independents believing that it should be a high government priority, according to the National Institute on Retirement Security.

However, if Minter-Jordan’s warning is correct and people — especially young people — no longer trust that they will actually get the benefits they were promised, this could undermine universal support for the program.

Related: Peter Schiff’s partner proposes wild fix for Social Security collapse

Right now, Social Security is largely protected because of the force of public opinion, and constituent pressure can prevent lawmakers from cutting it. 

In fact, while the default Republican position used to favor Social Security reform, President Donald Trump has repeatedly promised that he would make no cuts to the program.

Social Security changes are coming

The reality is that some changes will be necessary, because the Social Security Trustees’ report has warned that an automatic benefits cut is looming in 2034. 

Social Security’s trust fund will run out at that time, so the program will only be able to pay benefits out of current revenue. This would lead to an automatic 19% cut to benefits.

Lawmakers must take action soon to prevent that from happening. And if young people have lost faith in ever getting their benefits, past public pressure may not have much influence.

Even worse, many people may not realize until too late what is at stake in reforms.

“Receiving Social Security changes how people view the program,” said AARP Senior Vice President of Government Affairs Bill Sweeney. “They realize how important that inflation-adjusted treatment income is.”

However, by then, changes may already have been made that leave younger people with less.

What you can do to protect your Social Security benefits:

• Contact your lawmakers about Social Security reform
• Stay informed about proposed benefit changes
• Plan diversified retirement income streams

Related: Social Security’s 2026 COLA will be good news for older Americans