There is no good answer since the issue is highly political and everyone who has done has any research has an agenda. Plus, as we all know, when we talk about the future, no one has any clue and depending on the assumptions you choose to make, you can come up with any answer you want.  The conservatives, who never liked the idea of Social Security in the first place, think that this is the best time to get rid of social security since President Bush has fallen into their trap and all branches of government are now controlled by Republicans. That is why they are creating an impression that the crisis is very severe though other analysts disagree. As one analyst put it, "The social security crisis, like the weapons of mass destruction, is a figment of Bush's imagination." 

Supporters of Social Security argue that while the program is not in perfect shape, it is projected to have enough assets to pay 100% of benefits until 2042. Even then, incoming revenues will be enough to pay more than 70% of benefits for decades to come. Social Security's financing problems are long term and will not affect today's retirees and near-retirees.