One of the more talked about reform plans is the "Roadmap for America's Future" proposed by Rep. Ryan. It has the magic number of age 55... those 55 and older keep the old plan... those under 55 get lesser benefits.But the problem is that "drawing a line" will always have people resisting reforms if they are on the "wrong side of the line" because they are feeling like they have to sacrifice when others don't. And those others may not need it as much as those asking to (yet again) accept a worse deal in the future.
Unless everyone is willing to share sacrifice, I don't see this getting resolved. Does that mean everyone has to suffer? No. But a "magic number" like someone's age is not sufficient, IMO, without other factors being considered. If someone is over 50 or 60 and has a lower income, one that's highly indicative of needing every dollar of their benefit? Spare them. I don't think an affluent person should be spared because they are 52 while a struggling household is told to wait longer or accept a lower benefit because they are 48. Again, I think that invites generational warfare that helps none of us.
This divides my household - DH is 60, I'm 50. It makes the arbitrariness of the age 55 seem ridiculous.
I agree there will need to be shared pain and that the lowest economic folks should be spared cuts. But I don't have any clean solutions.