[secabeen]

Sure, if nothing is done. The trust fund redeeming its bonds is little different than the congress appropriating money for Social Security benefits; both come out of the current revenue of the USG. When the trust fund no longer has any bonds to redeem, there's nothing stopping congress from continuing to transfer money into Social Security to pay benefits at existing levels. They'll just have to vote on it rather than it happening automatically.

[seanmcdirmid]

2033 is when all the bonds should have been redeemed and there is no money left to redeem, just contributions coming in and more payments going out. And yes, congress can do a straight injection from the general fund, it’s just even more deficit spending at that point.