21.   But Reischauer said that regardless of whether there is a lock box, Social Security benefits will be paid.

22.   But the same money is needed to pay current benefits. . . .

23.   But when boomers retire, the smaller succeeding generations will be unable to pay those benefits without a major tax increase.

24.   By law, money not needed to pay benefits immediately is invested in special-issue government bonds, which are redeemed when needed.

25.   Congress provided the supplemental grants partly to help states that were paying low benefits to existing enrollees.

26.   Currently, the tax raises more money than Social Security needs each year to pay benefits.

27.   Even with the good news on Social Security finances, all that money will be needed to pay the benefits already in place for the baby boomers.

28.   Every young, working individual would pay a tax, which would be used to pay benefits that same year to each older, retired individual.

29.   Executives can cash out of the policy while they are still alive or the benefits will be paid to heirs.

30.   From that point on, Social Security will have to cash in the government bonds in its trust fund to help pay benefits.