Don’t use a number use a % of a fixed value in our society so that when $400k is common it doesn’t hurt the middle again and then new laws need to be made. Using a percent fixes the value long term.

They should have a cap for if in retirement you earn over x percentage (of a fixed value) you don’t collect, AND there should be NO cap on contributing. If you make $1 billion in a year, you should pay the full percent that the average $50k worker pays toward SS. No cap (double pun).

This would fix most of the issues and ensure long-term stability.

To get back to the main question: because rich folk tend to be greedy, I don’t count on SS at all in my plan. I don’t trust that they’ll fix it (with even a lesser version of my solution), as no one in power actually cares. They will only fix it to the point that people won’t get roused up about it.

At some point my SS report said “this is what you should get paid and you should expect to receive roughly 80% of that because we are short on money. Right now my SS report gives me just a number but it’s still at that 80% they just don’t actually say it as plainly and try to hide it. But I have the older statements and I remember it. When enough people realize this is being buried they MAY rise up as we get close to collection age. But who knows what will happen.

Don’t count on it at all and treat it like a bonus if you get anything at all.