Seems like no one---neither Republican or Democrat---has the cajones to step up to plate, and talk about one of the most obvious,equitable "fixes" to the Social Security shortfall...
Simply make it a rule that those who don't make their fair share of contributions into the system, shouldn't be allowed to take anything out of the system...
Wait...wait...before you troll-rate me, let me clarify that I am not referring to survivor benefits for widows/widowers and orphans, or benefits for the infirm or disabled here...
What
I am referring to is that someone who may have never contributed into the Social Security a day in his/her life is automatically entitled to receive an amount equal to one half of their working spouse's benefit when their spouse retires.
From Social Security Administration website:
"Spouse's benefits
A spouse who has not worked or who has low earnings can be entitled to as much as one-half of the retired worker's full benefit."
On the other hand, spouses who both work and contribute into Social Security all of their lives, have their benefits calculated based on their respective earnings. As a result, it is not uncommon for a low-wage earning couple, who both worked and paid into SS all of their lives, to receive a far smaller combined monthly benefit than a couple that had just one (high-salaried) spouse paying into the system.
Please understand, I am not advocating cutting anyone's benefits. However, in the interest of fairness, I think that anyone with a stay at home spouse should be made to pay a higher amount of payroll taxes to cover contributions for both themselves and their spouses...
It should work much in the same way as private insurance or an annuity---if you want more coverage or income down the road, you pay a higher premium, now.
While I don't think this would solve all the solvency problems, it would definitely help. It would also help to create a more just system of distribution, and restore trust in the program.