With looming fear that Social Security beneficiaries may see smaller checks, Social Security has become the topic with the second-highest number of searches this election cycle, according to the Associated Press.

While both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala have vowed to protect Social Security benefits, neither have offered a thorough plan that will completely address the $23.2 trillion funding shortfall over the next 75 years.

Ultimately, it will be up to Congress to amend the Social Security Act in order to make changes necessary to meet the funding needs of the program. However, the president will set the tone and put pressure on Congress to act.

Here is the rundown of what both Trump and Harris have previously said about their efforts to preserve Social Security. 

Donald Trump

While the Republican Study Committee, a conservative caucus composed of 80% of all House Republicans, suggests raising the age to receive benefits “to account for increases in life expectancy,” Trump’s campaign stands firm that he will not raise the retirement age nor would he make cuts to benefits. 

Trump has suggested that he would end taxation on Social Security benefits, giving retirees a potential boost in the value of their checks. However, this plan wouldn’t bring any relief to the shortfall. In fact, tax expert Garrett Watson suggests Trump’s proposal to be “unsound and irresponsible.” He estimates that eliminating taxes from Social Security benefits would actually reduce revenue by $1.4 trillion from 2025 to 2034. Through this proposal, Social Security would reach insolvency two years faster than if Congress does not act at all. 

The former president also suggested during a town hall meeting in December that Social Security could be funded by selling oil and gas reserves. 

But the Committee for a Responsible Federal Budget conducted an analysis that found oil and gas leasing revenues would just cover 4% of Social Security’s projected shortfall.

Meanwhile, Trump criticized the Biden-Harris administration for its lax immigration policies, saying they would be a drain on Social Security. 

In a television ad, the Trump campaign warns seniors that illegal immigrants will be cutting into their benefits.

“Attention seniors: Kamala Harris has promised amnesty for the 10 million illegals she allowed in as border czar making them eligible for Social Security,” the narrator says. “Studies warn this will lead to cuts in your Social Security benefits.”

While Border Patrol agents may have recorded 10 million encounters at the southern border, this does not mean there are 10 million illegal immigrants who are now in the United States.

Regardless, the Center for Immigration Studies reported that amnesty would actually pose a great cost burden on both Social Security and Medicare. 

“If 10 million illegal immigrants receive amnesty, the total cost to Social Security and Medicare Part A would be roughly $1.3 trillion in present value, equivalent to a one-time transfer of 6 percent of GDP,” the report stated.

Kamala Harris 

During the June presidential debate, President Joe Biden shared he is in support of eliminating the cap on payroll taxes, which are largely responsible for funding Social Security. The current tax cap is set at $168,600, meaning taxpayers don’t have to pay payroll taxes on more money earned. However, Biden has suggested putting additional taxes on income above $400,000. Essentially, if a person made $500,000 a year, then they would be taxed on the first $168,600 and then on the additional $100,000 made.

An analysis conducted by the Social Security’s office found that enacting Biden’s plan would actually move the projected depletion date of the trust back by about 32 years.

While serving in Congress, then-Sen. Kamala Harris co-sponsored the Social Security Expansion Act, which included a measure reinstating payroll taxes for income made over $250,000 a year. 

However, several experts raise concerns that some people would be paying more into the system than they will actually receive when it comes time for them to retire. 

With over 50 million recipients facing the risk of losing benefits, both Democrats and Republicans, regardless of who is in the Oval Office, will face increasing pressure to ensure the trust does not become insolvent.