Social Security benefits are a perennial target for cuts as policymakers face the need to strengthen the program's long-run solvency.

But as a new CBPP report explains:

1. Social Security benefits are quite modest.
2. The majority of beneficiaries have little significant income from other sources.
3. For most seniors, Social Security is the only income they will receive that's guaranteed to last as long as they live and provide full inflation protection.
4. Social Security benefits in the United States are low compared with other advanced countries.
5. Future retirees already face lower benefits (relative to their past earnings) than current retirees because of a rising Social Security retirement age and escalating Medicare premiums.