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FEDERAL SPENDING - GENERAL TEXT If you had a say in making up the federal budget this year, for which (1986 AND LATER: of the following) programs would you like to see spending increased and for which would you like to see spending decreased: Should federal spending on [ITEM] be increased, decreased or kept about the same? Social Security
Federal spending on Social Security · Asked in 15 waves, 1984–2024 · 44,511 responses · weighted estimates computed from individual responses
Codes that include 'no Pre/Post IW' were dropped for respondents without that interview. Dropped only in years where the codebook names a design split (alternate form, half sample, abbreviated or web instrument): 9 in 1984. Kept and flagged: 8 (dk), 9 (no_answer). Codebook notes: GENERAL NOTE: See federal spending question text and notes preceding VCF0886.
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. Each column is one wave, evenly spaced rather than to scale in time; hover for exact shares.
| Group | Increased | Same | Decreased | Cut out entirely (volunteered) | n | MoE | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All respondents |
| Poll | Field dates | Mode | Respondents | Responses |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ANES 2024 Time Series Study Source variable: V241261. | 2024-08-03 to 2025-02-17 | mixed | 5,521 | 5,270 |
| ANES 2020 Time Series Study Source variable: V201300. | 2020-08-18 to 2021-01-04 | mixed | 8,280 | 8,277 |
| ANES 2016 Time Series Study Source variable: V161205. | 2016-09-07 to 2017-01-09 | mixed | 4,270 | 4,264 |
| ANES 2012 Time Series Study Source variable: fedspend_ss. | 2012-09-09 to 2013-01-13 | mixed | 5,914 | 5,914 |
| ANES 2008 Time Series Study | 2008-09-02 to 2008-12-30 | face to face | 2,322 | 2,321 |
| ANES 2004 Time Series Study Source variable: V043165. | 2004-09-07 to 2004-12-19 | face to face | 1,212 | 1,208 |
| ANES 2002 Time Series Study Source variable: V025117. | 2002-09-18 to 2002-12-06 | phone | 1,511 | 1,346 |
| ANES 2000 Time Series Study Source variable: V000681. |
Dashed lines mark changes in how interviews were done, which can shift answers: 1. → mixed mode (2012).
Shares of people who gave an answer. A group’s column is left blank in waves where its effective sample is under 50; hover for exact shares.
| 64% |
| 31% |
| 5% |
| – |
| 5270 |
| ±2 |
| Men | 63% | 30% | 7% | – | 2426 | ±3 |
| Women | 65% | 32% | 4% | – | 2805 | ±3 |
ANES 2024 Time Series Study · US citizens 18+ (face-to-face samples: contiguous 48 states and DC; web samples: 50 states and DC). Shares of people who gave an answer. n is unweighted; ± is the 95% margin of error at 50% from the weighted effective sample. Groups with an effective sample under 50 are grayed; under 20, hidden.
| 2000-09-05 to 2000-12-22 |
| mixed |
| 1,807 |
| 1,807 |
| ANES 1996 Time Series Study Source variable: V960560. | 1996-09-03 to 1997-01-02 | mixed | 1,714 | 1,714 |
| ANES 1994 Time Series Study Source variable: V940819. | 1994-11-09 to 1995-01-08 | mixed | 1,795 | 1,795 |
| ANES 1992 Time Series Study Source variable: V923811. | 1992-09-02 to 1993-01-16 | mixed | 2,485 | 2,481 |
| ANES 1990 Time Series Study Source variable: V900380. | 1990-11-06 to 1991-01-21 | face to face | 1,980 | 1,980 |
| ANES 1988 Time Series Study Source variable: V880348. | 1988-09-06 to 1989-01-23 | face to face | 2,040 | 2,034 |
| ANES 1986 Time Series Study Source variable: V860329. | 1986-11-05 to 1987-02-07 | face to face | 2,176 | 2,176 |
| ANES 1984 Time Series Study Source variable: V840999. | 1984-09-04 to 1985-01-24 | mixed | 2,257 | 1,924 |