The federal government should increase spending on Social Security
Democrats79%
Republicans69%
Independents62%
Source: The Economist/YouGov, Feb. 10, 2026
Chart: Americans Agree
Chart: Americans Agree
Social Security
The Economist/YouGov, Feb. 10, 2026
Details
| Question | Do you think the federal government should increase or decrease what it spends on...? |
| Item | Social Security |
| Response | Increase slightly or a lot |
| Poll Main Page | The Economist/YouGov Poll, February 6-9, 2026 |
| Interview Period | Feb. 6, 2026 to Feb. 9, 2026 |
| Sample Size | 1,730 |
| Policy Context | Social Security is a federal program that provides monthly payments to retired workers, disabled individuals, and survivors of deceased workers, funded through payroll taxes paid during their working years. When this poll was conducted in early February 2026, Social Security recipients had just received a 2.8% cost of living increase. Also, many people 65 and older will get a new tax break up to $6,000, which can be used to lower the taxable portion of Social Security benefits. |
Other poll results on Social Security
Different polls may have used different formats and wording, but they were all getting at the same concept.
Click any poll result for details
Position | Dem. | Rep. | Ind. | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
The federal government should increase spending on Social Security The Economist/YouGov, Nov. 24, 2025 | 85% | 66% | 63% | |
The federal government should increase Social Security spending YouGov, Oct. 27, 2025 | 78% | 67% | 64% | |
Federal funding for Social Security should not be cut KFF (Kaiser Family Foundation), May 1, 2025 | 94% | 73% | 85% |