Social security

Trustees rating financial health of Social Security, Medicare as problems loom from baby boom

The federal government's two largest benefit programs face short- and long-term financial problems as they close in on milestone anniversaries. The magnitude of those problems will become clearer when the trustees for Social Security and Medicare issue their annual report cards.

Last year, the trustees said the trust fund that supports Social Security's disability program would run dry in 2016. Unless Congress addresses the shortfall, it would trigger an automatic 19 percent cut in benefits right in the middle of a presidential election.