What are the Trust Funds? | Press Office (2024)

Press Office

What are the Trust Funds?

The Social Security trust funds are financial accounts in the U.S. Treasury. There are two separate Social Security trust funds, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund pays retirement and survivors benefits, and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays disability benefits.

Social Security taxes and other income are deposited in these accounts, and Social Security benefits are paid from them. The only purposes for which these trust funds can be used are to pay benefits and program administrative costs.

The Social Security trust funds hold money not needed in the current year to pay benefits and administrative costs and, by law, invest it in special Treasury bonds that are guaranteed by the U.S. Government. A market rate of interest is paid to the trust funds on the bonds they hold, and when those bonds reach maturity or are needed to pay benefits, the Treasury redeems them.

What are the Trust Funds? | Press Office (2024)

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What are the Trust Funds? | Press Office? ›

The Social Security trust funds

Social Security trust funds
What are the Social Security Trust Funds? The Social Security Trust Funds are the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Funds. These funds are accounts managed by the Department of the Treasury.
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are financial accounts in the U.S. Treasury. There are two separate Social Security trust funds, the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) Trust Fund pays retirement and survivors benefits, and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Fund pays disability benefits.

What is the purpose of a trust fund? ›

Trust funds are legal arrangements that allow individuals to place assets in a special account to benefit another person or entity. Trust funds can be complex and often require the assistance of an attorney to set up, though there are online tools for the do-it-yourselfer.

Is trust funds legit? ›

Trust funds are legal entities that provide financial, tax, and legal protections for individuals.

What are the government trust funds? ›

Trust funds are those designated by law as such, whereby receipts are earmarked for spending on specific purposes. The laws establishing trust funds may require balances to be invested, typically in Treasury debt securities.

Is there really a social security trust fund? ›

The Social Security Trust Funds are the Old-Age and Survivors Insurance (OASI) and the Disability Insurance (DI) Trust Funds. These funds are accounts managed by the Department of the Treasury.

What happens to money in a trust fund? ›

Trust Funds can contain money, bank accounts, property, stocks, businesses, heirlooms, and any other investment types. These assets remain in the Trust until certain circ*mstances are met, at which point they will be distributed to the beneficiaries.

Who holds the money in a trust fund? ›

There are three parties who take part in a trust fund: the grantor, the trustee and the beneficiary. The grantor is the person who establishes the trust fund and places his or her assets into the fund. The trustee is the person or institution who holds and manages the assets.

How do I get money out of my trust fund? ›

In short, you'll need to petition the trustees and clearly explain your situation if you want any assets released early. No matter what the terms of the trust are, the trustees aren't blocked from distributing the assets – although they can decide not to give you anything if they think your case isn't strong enough.

What is the average amount of a trust fund? ›

While some may hold millions of dollars, based on data from the Federal Reserve, the median size of a trust fund is around $285,000. That's certainly not “set for life” money, but it can play a large role in helping families of all means transfer and protect wealth.

Can someone steal my trust fund? ›

Under California law, embezzling trust funds or property valued at $950 or less is a misdemeanor offense and is punishable by up to 6 months in county jail. If a trustee embezzles more than $950 from the trust, they can be charged with felony embezzlement, which carries a sentence of up to 3 years in jail.

Does a trust fund affect Social Security benefits? ›

In general, the trust will be considered a resource when applying or retaining SSI. With a revocable trust, the entire trust is the person's resource. With an irrevocable trust, if there are parts of the trust in which payments could be made to benefit the person, then that amount will be viewed as a resource.

Are trust funds only for the rich? ›

MANY PEOPLE ASSUME THAT TRUSTS are only for the very wealthy. That's not the case. “Trusts are tools that give you very specific control over how your wealth is used and protected, no matter how much money you have,” says Kevin Hindman, Wealth Strategies Executive with Bank of America Private Bank.

Can I borrow money from my Social Security? ›

Social Security will not give you a loan or let you borrow against your future benefits. You can't, for example, ask to borrow $5,000 and then simply have Social Security deduct that sum from your benefits once you start collecting them.

How do I get money from my social security number? ›

Quick – It's easy to receive your benefit by Direct Deposit. You can sign up online at Go Direct®, by calling 1-800-333-1795, in person at your bank, savings and loan or credit union, or calling Social Security. Then, just relax. Your benefit will go automatically into your account every month.

How much is my social security number worth? ›

A separate Experian estimate from 2017 has driver's licenses selling for $20 while, surprisingly, Social Security numbers can sell for as little as $1. Shopping logins range from $15.34 for Macy's Inc to $1.56 for Wayfair Inc and FreshDirect. Amazon.com, Inc. and Walmart Inc logins each go for $9.00.

Do you pay taxes on trust funds? ›

Once money is placed into the trust, the interest it accumulates is taxable as income, either to the beneficiary or the trust itself. The trust must pay taxes on any interest income it holds and does not distribute past year-end. Interest income the trust distributes is taxable to the beneficiary who receives it.

How does a trust fund make money? ›

If you are wondering do trust funds gain interest, the answer is “yes, it is possible.” However, they must hold assets that produce income. A trust fund is a type of account that holds a variety of assets for your beneficiaries. Some assets, like a savings account, produce interest, while others do not.

What is the biggest mistake parents make when setting up a trust fund? ›

The Biggest Mistake When Setting Up a Trust Fund

The answer may surprise you as it could be easily avoided: lack of proper planning. Trusts can be complex with lots of moving pieces, which means you need to consider all aspects of how they are set up and how they will function in the future.

Why do rich people put their homes in a trust? ›

Asset protection: A properly designed trust can also protect the assets in it from creditors, predators and failed marriages. In addition, a properly designed trust can protect the assets in it from long-term care and nursing home costs.

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