The trustees annual report estimates are out. They take into account all of the possible factors which might affect these accounts, interest..., and make their estimates.

Social Security, Medicare to run out sooner

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) - The trustees of Social Security and Medicare now estimate that the Social Security trust fund will be exhausted in 2040 while the Medicare trust fund will be depleted in 2018, slightly sooner than previously forecast.

Those projections are part of the trustees' 2006 annual report, which was released Monday afternoon, roughly a month after its original due date. ...

A change of a year or two in trust fund exhaustion estimates isn't considered significant because it reflects small adjustments in long-term averages that are made based on the latest economic factors, including the rise or fall in interest rates, wage growth and inflation. This year, for example, the trustees assumed a slightly lower real interest rate and a slightly increased long-term fertility rate.

The term "trust fund exhaustion" does not mean that there are no funds available - rather, it means that the system will be able to pay out only a percentage of promised benefits. ...

Mr Bush has long been fighting for both HSA's as well as PRA's only to be firewalled by the liberals (who believe government must provide all).

People are living beyond their contributions and the still is quickly running dry.

Do we change course today or continue to turn a blind eye and hope for something other than the inevitable?

JDW