The federal government should increase or decrease what it spends on Social Security
Democrats78%
Republicans68%
Independents70%
Source: The Economist/YouGov, May 26, 2026
Chart: Americans Agree
Chart: Americans Agree
Social Security
The Economist/YouGov, May 26, 2026
Details
| Question | Do you think the federal government should increase or decrease what it spends on...? |
| Item | Social Security |
| Response | Increase a lot or increase slightly |
| Poll Main Page | The Economist/YouGov Poll, May 22-26, 2026 |
| Interview Period | May 22, 2026 to May 26, 2026 |
| Sample Size | 1,520 |
| 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 May 2026, Social Security recipients had received a 2.8% cost of living increase for 2026. Also, many people 65 and older got a new tax break up to $6,000, which could 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, Feb. 10, 2026 | 79% | 69% | 62% | |
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% |