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Social Security Suffers as Execs' Pay Soars

Top-paid workers get a third of total US pay

By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 21, 2009 9:32 AM CDT

(Newser) – Executives and other employees earning top dollar pull in more than a third of all US pay, the Wall Street Journal finds—and the ceiling on compensation subject to payroll taxes hasn’t risen enough accordingly, meaning the government isn’t bringing in what’s needed to plug ever-growing holes in the Social Security trust fund. Officials say the fund will run out in 2037.

A shrinking proportion of executive pay—83%, from 90% in 1982—is subject to payroll tax. The US forgoes a potential $115 billion yearly in revenue that could go to benefits for seniors. Officials say removing the ceiling on earnings subject to payroll tax could end the Social Security deficit for 75 years, but employers don’t want to see their payroll tax share increase.

Executives and other highly paid employees get a third of US pay.
Executives and other highly paid employees get a third of US pay.   (Shutterstock)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 10 comments
gilgordan
Jul 22, 2009 1:10 AM CDT
This should not come as surprise although disgusting to most americans without excess money to buy legislators to do their bidding. Just another example of the Fall of the American Dream
nick
Jul 21, 2009 9:20 AM CDT
scrappy2: Couple your suggestion with removing the SS payroll cap on paying into the program, and by golly, I think we have just saved Social Security! Call your Congressman.
scrappy2
Jul 21, 2009 7:52 AM CDT
There is a solution. I've believed for years that those 'executives', private fortune families, and those who "inherit" benefits due to the death of a spouse should NOT be entitled to benefits. I believe they should contribute like everyone else during their work years but if they retire with many millions, they would not be eligible. I would think they should feel rather petty receiving a check from the US Government for such a paltry amount each month when many depend on that paltry amount to survive. But then, again, that's how they ended up millionaires.

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