The Social Security “Trust” Fund: Real or Imaginary — Will a Consolidated Perspective Reveal the Truth? Around the year 2010, the “baby-boom” generation (those born shortly after World War II — roughly 70 million people) will begin reaching retirement age. Accordingly, in a single decade, a 30% increase in the number of citizens eligible for social security retirement benefits will occur As a result, the ratio of workers to retirees will decrease markedly. Consequently, the government must either (1) increase social security taxes significantly between 2010 and 2030 or (2) increase social security taxes prior to 2010 and set aside the additional taxes collected in a trust fund (to be invested until needed).